Yasir Hussain’s ‘So Suite’ delivers laughter at family theatre show

After watching So Suite at Alhamra, one thing was clear to me: good theatre still knows how to bring an audience together.

I recently had the opportunity to watch So Suite at Alhamra Theatre, a play written and directed by Yasir Hussain. After watching his previous play, Monkey Business, at Alhamra last year, I was looking forward to seeing what he had brought to the stage this time. It turned out to be an enjoyable theatre experience.

The efforts of the Punjab Government and the Alhamra team to revive family theatre deserve appreciation. At a time when theatre in Lahore and Punjab needs more quality family productions, So Suite feels like a positive step towards bringing audiences back to the theatre.

Yasir Hussain once again showed his understanding of his craft. He is not only a talented actor but also a writer and director who knows how to create situations that keep the audience engaged. His performance was one of the strongest parts of the play.

The story revolves around Honey, played by Yasir Hussain, and his friend Moon, played by Umer Alam. Before Honey’s wedding, a bachelor party leads to a series of misunderstandings and unexpected situations. From there, the story keeps moving through confusion, comedy and one situation after another.

The entire cast deserves appreciation. Afifa Shaikh, who played Moon’s girlfriend, did a wonderful job. Her presence on stage was strong, and she handled her character very well. Amjad C, played by Osama Habib, was another highlight of the play. His comic timing, expressions and Punjabi accent brought many laughs from the audience.

Bilal Yousufzai, who played Chaudhary Sahib, was excellent as well. His timing and delivery added to the comedy, while Fahad Hashmi, as the housekeeper, also gave a good performance. Hifza Tahir, Khizr Ansari and the rest of the cast also played their parts well and added to the overall experience.

What I particularly enjoyed was seeing the true spirit of theatre on stage. Theatre is not only about delivering dialogues. It is also about voice projection, expressions, body movement, timing and connecting with the audience. The cast understood that connection, and the response from the audience made that clear.

Making people laugh is not easy, especially when the humour includes Punjabi references and local situations. As a Punjabi and someone watching theatre in Lahore, I could relate to many of those moments. The audience laughed throughout, and the energy inside the theatre was one of the best parts of the evening.

The set design, costumes, punchlines and references also worked well with the story. The play had a good flow and kept the audience involved. There were moments when the laughter from the audience itself became part of the experience.

I was also fortunate enough to meet the cast backstage after the performance and appreciate their work personally. Meeting Yasir Hussain and the talented team was a memorable experience. I also had the opportunity to meet respected personalities from the industry, including Noor-ul-Hassan, Tabish Hashmi, Azam Khan, Meera and others.

For me, So Suite is a great effort towards bringing family theatre back to Lahore. I did feel that the ending could have been developed a little more, but overall, the play was entertaining and enjoyable.

I would recommend So Suite to anyone who wants to spend an evening with friends or family and simply enjoy good theatre, laughter and live performances.

Congratulations to the entire team of So Suite — Yasir Hussain, Umer Alam, Osama Habib, Bilal Yousufzai Hifza Tahir, Khizr Ansari, Fahad Hashmi, Afifa Shaikh and everyone who worked behind the scenes.

A beautiful play, a great effort and a welcome reminder of the charm of theatre.