Theater: “We Live in Cairo” @ New York Theater Workshop

“The revolution will not be televised,” Gil Scott-Heron sang. Maybe, maybe not. But in the 21st century, the arrival of a revolution can be signaled on Facebook, X, or Insta. And that’s just for starters.

Such is the case with the wonderful “We Live in Cairo” (NYTW) which profiles the young revolutionaries that used social media to help bring down the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

What makes this even more interesting is that Daniel and Patrick Lazour have not just retold the story, but turned it into a lively musical, whose score, lyrics and book (they wrote all three) deliver an emotional tribute to the artists and activists of the Arab Spring (circa 2010-2011).

The six cast members playing the protesters are a motley crew. They include two Coptic Christian songwriter-brothers: Amir (Ali Louis-Bourzguland) and Hany (Michael Khalid Karadsheh, from “The Ally” at the Public). Amir is smitten with Layla (Nadina Hassan), a young Muslim photographer who’s unsure about rising up against the state.

Karim (John El-Jor) is the campy son of a wealthy Egyptian businessman; he plays at revolution by spray-painting caricatures of Mubarak all over Cairo. Karim’s shy protege Hassan (Drew Elhanalawy) belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood. And it seems Faswa (Rotana Tarabzouni), the unofficial firebrand of the group, has been raising her fist against every Egyptian leader since Nassar.

Once they (and a million other Egyptians) bring Mubarak down, what’s next? Will democratic elections result in a better president? What happens if the next leader is equally dictatorial? The protestors’ failure to move forward on a plan fractures the group’s harmony, romances, and friendships.

The Lazour Brothers’ Middle-Eastern-ish score (they serve up every flavor of music from revolutionary to wistful to whimsical); the rear-screen projection of photographs from the 2011 revolution in Cairo’s Tahrir Square; and the whirling-dervish choreography of Ann Lee often make you feel like you’re on the front lines.

These revolutionaries weren’t content to sit quietly by. You shouldn’t be either. Order your tickets now because the show closes on November 27. Thanks, habibi.

Like this review? Follow me at “What Does Aug Think?” at acsntn.substack.com. Thank you!