Hakawati Freestyle

I have a bone to pick with Eve. Not only did she deprive her partner of a rib and then entice him to pluck the fruit and eat it, but she also succeeded in using her female charm to plunge Noura al-Sakkaf and I into Hakawati Freestyle. It all began past midnight in March 2006, in Dubai. Tired and dishevelled, Leila Mroueh (from now on referred to as Leila) and I emerged from the editing suite after many overnights working on a reality TV show, in pursuit of a hearty dinner. Leila attempted to lighten the mood and asked me the question of the century, “what I thought of television”. Oh, nothing beats the theater for me. Leila asks another question. Would I consider performing with Arabise Me? Perform what? I ask. Leila flatters me by saying I am a good storyteller and apparently have good comic skills. I would certainly say these skills are missing tonight because a piece of my Bresaola got stuck in my throat, and I was coughing the restaurant away