Theater life in Pakistan has a multi-provincial story. In Punjab it is the place where legendary comedians like Amanullah established their ground. The shows were less family friendly, relied more on raunchy comedy and later devolved into a niche segment of society that wasn’t … well, family friendly. In Karachi, Umer Sharif reigned for the better part of the 80s and 90s, a turbulent time in Karachi where I have personally seen shows during curfews.
So much was the belief Sharif had in Pakistan’s theater, that I once remember a dead silent, darkened Karachi where the lone shining light was coming from a tiny corridor from which public entered and exited. Once you entered that hallway, the world became immediately different. The lights shone, the music blasted and soon Umer Sharif arrived onstage with his characteristic gusto and fanfare, thrilling a deprived-audience with laughs and memorable punchlines that many remember to this day.
Yasir Hussein attempts to revive the same gusto and fanfare in a very different landscape today. We aren’t exactly living in curfew times but everyone’s on their phone, entertainment in Pakistan is restricted to Pakistani dramas or tiktoks and theater was fast becoming a forgotten art.
Yasir had earlier showcased his play Monkey Business in 2025, also to packed houses and a thoroughly entertained audience. Monkey Business was raunchier, riskier and relied more on Bollywood based punchlines. What’s great about So Suite is that it has a stronger storyline, you can feel Yasir’s confidence as a storyteller in how tightly the script is knit. The punchlines are more relevant to the Pakistani context and it seems like a non-stop ride for the audience, when it comes to laughter, whereas Monkey Business didn’t have these strengths.
Based on a comedy of errors, Yasir Hussain lights up the stage with his lively depiction as ‘Honey’ and his energetic counterpart, Umer Aalam plays ‘Moon’. Hifza Taahir, Fahad Hashmi and Bilal Yousafzai among other very talented artists, the show is a riot throughout. It makes plenty of commentary on social and political themes, the comedy pushes the envelope and a full house enjoyed every beat of the show.
Perhaps the strongest part of So Suite is the impeccable performance by Yasir Hussein, who carries the show with his one-liners and powerful presence. The script and direction, also by Yasir himself, has no r-rated language, no vulgar moments, even if there are some adult jokes. Next up in the top-ranked performance is Umer Aalam, whose genuine, high-energy performance matches Yasir’s and often reminds you of the famous duos Umer Sharif once had with Rauf Lala or Shakeel Siddiqui.
Yasir closed the show with a note of thanks to the audience and also mentioned his sponsors and that it was difficult to get sponsors on board for a show like this. While his indictment of the state of sponsorships towards entertainment truly hold merit, with consistent shows like So Suite, with Yasir raising the bar every year, it is truly hoped that the sponsors will wake up to the fact that multiple house full shows clearly mean that this business model is a successful one.
Watch So Suite at Karachi Arts Council and book your tickets now at Ticketwala dot pk. The show runs in Karachi for another seven days and may be taken to Rawalpindi as well. Here’s hoping Yasir Hussein lays the path for future budding artists and theater buffs to enjoy an art that need not die, rather thrive and become a living, breathing part of Pakistan’s culture and identity.
