Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Peace Camp Org.

Written by Mariam Bazeeb

Fresh Fruit Festival

The Wild Project

195 East 3rd Street

NYC

Review by Nusrat Hossain

Politics. The cause of peace … and destruction.  The politics behind the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel is one such instance. The Palestine and Israeli war began with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. After World War II. The Jewish people, having been uprooted from their homes by the Nazi’s in Germany and other countries did not have an established home to go to and the state of Israel was formed to provide one. They were given a large part of Palestine, which they considered their traditional home. However, the Arabs who already lived there and in neighboring countries felt that was unfair and didn’t accept the new country. Anger and chaos ensued.  

This play focuses on an Egyptian Muslim girl named Mariam. Mariam lives a life with her disabled mother, her overbearing uncle and a girl she occasionally hooks up with. Mariam dreams of getting away from the miserable walls of her mom’s apartment. She decides to go to a “peace building” camp in Maine, USA. The peace camp organization turns out to be a Zionist organization that changes her life forever. Through the organization, she ends up finding a hidden talent of singing. She is offered a scholarship for her singing along with a ticket out of her country.  

Peace Camp Org by Mariam Bazeed is a cleverly written piece that sheds light onto a topic not heavily discussed in social media. She sheds light on what it is like living in a strict Muslim household, where being lesbian is taboo and a great sin. Where girls are not given as much freedom as men, and where you are bound by society, family and religious expectations. One of my favorite lines in the play was, “She’ll come back to you a lesbian! In America, everyone is a lesbian!” Mariam’s story shows how completely different a person’s life can be from yours, but at the same time completely alike. Peace Camp Org stirs empathy in all audiences, especially the ones that can relate. I encourage all audiences to catch a glimpse of “Peace Camp Org”. This witty play filled with raw passion will surely capture your heart and leave you something to think about.