English - TheaterWorks Hartford

TheaterWorks Hartford celebrates its 40^th season with a superb production of English, the 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sanaz Toossi.  The show takes place in an advanced TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) class.  Four students, of different ages and goals, seek to master the English language by passing the TOEFL test.  The play adeptly explores issues of language on cultural identity and self-worth.

 

Pantea Ommi, Anahita Monfared, Sahar Milani, and Afsheen Misaghi in English.  Photo by Curtis Brown.

The quartet of students, circa Iran in 2008, are under the tutelage of Marjan (Neagheen Homaifar), a demanding, yet sympathetic instructor.   They are Elham (Sahar Milani), a driven individual looking to score high on the TOEFL to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor; Goli (Anahita Monfared), an enthusiastic 18-year-old student; Omid (Afsheen Misaghi), whose is already quite proficient in English and seeking his green card; and Roya (Pantea Ommi), a grandmother who wants to become competent in English to be able to communicate with her grandchild living in Canada.

 

Pantea Ommi and Sahar Milani in English.  Photo by Curtis Brown.

Through multiple blackout scenes, designating the passage of time, Ms. Toossi is able to reveal each of the characters’ difficulties as they progress through the course and, hopefully, achieve their objective – passing the TOEFL.  The playwright has cleverly created a system for communicating the character’s thoughts in both their native tongue and English.  When they speak in an unaccented tone, this connotes their native tongue of Farsi.  Accented English implies their communication in English.  In just a short time, and without any unnecessary exposition, the audience understands the playwright’s device.

 

As the 95-minute, intermission-less show progresses, conflicts, both personal and within the classroom, arise.  The end is a satisfying mix of success and sadness.  Additionally, audiences will leave TheaterWorks Hartford ruminating on the questions posed and situations presented – the mark of an inspired production.

 

Neagheen Homaifar and Afsheen Misaghi in English.  Photo by Curtis Brown.

Director Arya Shahi has molded the cast into a first-rate ensemble.  He doesn’t clutter the play with a lot of unnecessary bustling about, but allows the words and simple acts to take center stage.  Working with Sadra Tehrani’s simple classroom Set Design and Mary Ellen Stebbins’ institutional Lighting Design, the director effectively brings out the humor, honesty, and solemnity in Sanaz Toossi’s well-crafted script.

 

Each character is well-defined, bestowed with multiple layers by the playwright.  The only misstep is with the character of Omid.  His motivations for taking the course are not satisfactorily presented, even though his character does add a romantic twist to the show.

 

English, playing at TheaterWorks Hartford through November 8.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.