The Invisible Hand

The famous Scottish economist Adam Smith coined this phrase in the year 1776. The invisible hand is essentially a phenomenon which guides free markets and capitalism through competition for scarce resources.

In this very harrowing play you learned a lot about Islamic terrorism and an investment banker’s lot.

A tiny cell, the back wall splattered with blood, barking dogs, the sound of crickets, the perpetual drone of eerie music, the sound of the singeing heat and the occasional battle noise wafting like hot desert air through the barred window. Outside is Pakistan inside is Nick an Investment Banker from the New York Citibank held hostage by Islamic fundamentalist terrorists who wage war against their own corrupt government and the west, mainly the United States. He does what he knows best to save his life: he makes money, a lot of money, for his captors. But is Nick’s fight for his life filled with good moral intentions? Who is the usurped and who is the usurper? In the end the young fundamentalist captor Bashir, Nick cunningly befriended, experienced something he finally called exasperated “reverse Stockholm Syndrome” The captor became emotionally tied to the captive not the other way round as it should be! How ironic.

The intimacy of the theatre, a bar with some 70 seats and a stage, (reminded me personally on a similar venue in Chicago) made this play and the immediacy of the actor’s performance an experience I will not forget. Neither will I forget the unusual briefness of our President Dr Kurt Tiroch’s address before we enjoyed an in-depth and captivating discussion with the actors on stage and later off stage when they joined us in the subsequent party.

The catering must be mentioned, courtesy of “Café Ministerium”. It was very generous and impeccably served. It was well after midnight when the party gradually dissipated.

Let me leave you with something to think about: Did you know that since the beginning of 2016 a total of 179 were killed and a total of 109 were injured by Islamic terror incidents in Pakistan.

Finally a free but perhaps very important tip how to survive a hostage situation: Stay calm, connect with your captor, remain alert and capitalise on any opportunities for escape as a final solution, should negotiations fail.

Wolfgang Geißler

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