Ironically, the first line in one of his most famous plays, Bye Bye London, was a younger Abdulhussain Abdulredha, caught telling his niece "Get off my back, I'm in London to have fun. I'm in London to change scenery and enjoy myself. I'm not in London to be put in hospitals or surgeries."
So when Tariq Al Ali, an actor and dear friend to Abdulredha, dispelled rumours that one of Kuwait’s most beloved actors had fallen into a coma in London on Wednesday, the country was relieved.
However, Al Ali who has shared the stage with Abdulredha on numerous occasions, confirmed the actor is in intensive care and closely monitored by doctors.
“I spoke to his assistant, Hasan Al Salman, he told me that he is in intensive care and doctors are being extra cautious and they want him to rest,” he said on Twitter.
The 78-year-old underwent surgery earlier this week, according to Al Ali, and is now recovering from what doctors are calling a stable situation.
The quashing of the rumour didn't stop an outpouring of best wishes coming out of Kuwait as the news hit that the country's most cherished artist had entered intensive care.
“Our pain is too much to handle. The news of this giant of art and one of the pioneers of Kuwaiti and Gulf Theater,” said Parliament speaker Marzooq Al Ghanim.
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His colleague, MP Safa Al Hashem echoed the sentiment saying: “The dearest to all of us, the great Abdulhussain Abdulredha, you’ve made our hearts happy for all these years, get well soon.”
Well-wishers extended beyond Kuwait with several figures from across the Arab world expressing their concern over Twitter on Thursday.
“May God make you happy just as you’ve pleased us and brought us joy, get better soon,” said Bahraini writer Maryam Al Sherooqi.
The Kuwaiti’s acting career is often lauded as the cornerstone of Gulf comedy and the epicentre behind the Golden age of Kuwaiti theatre in the 1970s and 1980s.
Often taking on difficult roles, such as Saddam Hussein in Saif Al Arab or a freewheeling Kuwaiti abroad in Bye Bye London, the Kuwaiti was known to veer off-script on stage in quick-witted banter with other actors who shared the stage with the legend.
But perhaps Abu Adnan’s most important contribution on stage was how he provided social and political commentary wrapped in comedic jest, reflecting so accurately Kuwaiti public sentiment at the time that recorded tapes of his performances are often regarded as historical records of the time.
His iconic monologue rants were met with raucous laughs as much as they were with rippling applause, the likes of which would be found at a political speech.
The septuagenarian will stay in intensive care until further notice.
As fans, and products of his upbringing, Kuwaitis and much of the Arab world are praying for his quick recovery, out of the hospitals and back to having fun.
