REVIEW: A teacher and her four students learn the complexities of ‘English’
Photo: English stars, from left, Tala Ashe and Marjan Neshat. Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus / Provided by Polk & Co. with permission.
NEW YORK — The Pulitzer Prize-winning play English has landed on Broadway after a successful run a couple of years ago at the Atlantic Theater Company. The show, written by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams, follows an instructor named Marjan (Marjan Neshat) as she tries her best to teach four adult students the English language in anticipation of them taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Among the students are Elham (Tala Ashe), who becomes easily frustrated when she doesn’t excel in the classroom; Roya (Pooya Mohseni), who endeavors to use her new language skills as a grandmother; Goli (Ava Lalezarzadeh), who seemingly gets along with everyone; and Omid (Hadi Tabbal), who has the most advanced English skills in the group.
Over the course of 100 minutes, this English training takes many twists and turns. Marjan’s approach is supportive and encouraging, but she also has strict barriers, including not speaking Farsi during class. Every time someone strays from English, a check goes next to their name on the board, and she never lets someone stray from this edict. She is after full immersion, and she believes the only way these four students will actually learn English is to speak and understand the language 100 percent of the time while in the classroom.
During optional office hours, which only Omid attends, the teacher and student watch American films to better understand the language and culture. This leads Omid and Marjan to become closer, much to the chagrin of Elham, who believes the instructor is playing favorites. Elham is dedicated and driven, and when she answers wrongly or trips up during a class exercise, she takes the infraction personally. This leads Elham and Marjan to constantly clash.
The undercurrent of English is why these four students want to learn the language and why Marjan has dedicated her life to teaching others. Interwoven with their academic desires are difficult questions about modern-day Iran, where the school is located, and their aspirations for the future. Is English their ticket away from their home country? When does a person know that they have successfully adopted a new language? When they start dreaming in that new coded system? What happens if a student becomes self-conscious about their accent?
The manner in which the dialogue is presented to the audience in English is unique and leaves a lasting impression. It’s best not to describe exactly how the cast pulls this off, but the decision is inspired because it allows the audience at the Todd Haimes Theatre to understand when a student is speaking Farsi, when they are learning English and the grey area in between.
Toossi’s play, being produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, definitely deserves this Broadway run. The show touches upon many important issues of language and identity, but it also never preaches or tries too hard. The situations are real and authentic, with many of the lines providing great humor for this cast of characters. Other times, the turns of phrase are devastating and soul-crushing.
English is a powerful piece of intimate theater that feels both timely to the 21st century, yet somehow timeless as well. These four students face struggles and triumphs, all while they attempt to process the importance and gravity of learning another language, and what it means to use those skills to make a change that will forever impact their lives.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
English, written by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams, stars Marjan Neshat, Tala Ashe, Pooya Mohseni, Hadi Tabbal and Ava Lalezarzadeh. Running time: 100 minutes with no intermission. Continues through March 2 at the Todd Haimes Theatre on Broadway. A Roundabout Theatre Company production. Click here for more information and tickets.
