The play “The Hotel” raises philosophical questions about regret and self-awareness through guests who suffer deep crises in an ambiguous place between life and death, where they review their lives in a “spiritual awakening” experience before returning to their reality. Produced by the Artistic House of Theater affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the play is currently showing at the “Opera Malik” theater in Cairo’s Azbakeya district. Dramaturgy by Fadi Nashat and directed by Mohamed Al-Tayea, it is adapted from the famous international play “Hotel des Deux Mondes” by French writer Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, born in 1960, known for works like “Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur’an”.

The setting is ambiguous, sometimes resembling a hotel, sometimes an emergency hospital ward, often somewhere in between. The guests are in a liminal state between life and death, each having experienced an accident resulting in a coma and temporary heart stoppage. They arrive in a state of honesty and transparency, experiencing a kind of spiritual awakening to contemplate their past actions. The characters vary from a selfish father obsessed with money, neglecting his sick daughter, to a famous tightrope walker who lost herself in fame, and an arrogant manager abusing his power.

Actor Mohy El-Din Yehia plays Julian, a non-believer who lived recklessly, driving at over 200 km/h leading to severe injury. He describes portraying this role as a challenge to show the character’s spiritual transformation after nearing death, becoming more transparent and less vain. The cast includes Iman Al-Nasser, Menna Bakr, Mohamed Hany, Sherihan Qutb, and Ahmed Sherbas, delivering smooth and calm performances fitting the themes of shock, reflection, confession, and purification.

The set design by Mohamed Fathi complements the atmosphere with white-colored panels, tables, chairs, plants, and clocks, symbolizing spiritual and mental purity.