“ENGLISH” PLEASE, ENGLISH!

 How do you emphasize enough for someone to speak English when their native tongue is, say Spanish, or Farsi, or Russian, or Hebrew and yours is English only? 

After my two oldest grandsons moved back to San Diego, after having lived eighteen years in Israel,  they lived with me. Both boys were and are bi -lingual, but most of the conversations they had with each other was in Hebrew. My hue and cry was…’English Please, English.'

Joe Joseph and Pooya Mohseni

And, so it is in Sanaz Toossi’s 2023 Pulitzer Prize , Obie Award, and Lucille Lorttel’s award  play currently on stage at the Old Globe’s  Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in the round through Jan 25th, that her new play “English” is so insightful, at least to me,  as one who speaks English only.

Set just outside Tehran in 2008 in a small classroom, four students are preparing for the English proficiency test (TOEFL) in order to get a visa to come to the U.S. Each student has a different reason for leaving the repressive regime in which they live; some more than others. Three of the four are grappling to make this work and fit in to their own lives as English speakers.  The sole male in the class, Omid (Joe Joseph) is already proficient, but feels he is not proficient enough. His is another story in and of itself. However don’t be surprised if you noticed a little love interest between Omid and Marjan, his teacher.

from left) Mary Apick, Ari Derambakhsh, Pooya Mohseni, Tara Grammy, and Joe Joseph

Of the other women,  Roya (Mary Apick) is a grandmother whose main purpose is to speak with her family who now live in Canada. Hers is a most difficult journey because she not only cannot fathom the language, but loves her native tongue.  Goli (Ari Derambakshs) is an enthusiastic 18 year old who is more than happy to take on a new language and Elham (Tara Grammy) has an opportunity to study in Australia , but struggles with the language. Teaching this diverse class is Marjan Pooya Mohseni. She is by the book strict that English only to be spoken. And while she is proficient, she too, struggles. 

Director Arya Shasi moves the actors around in a classroom setting so that each has an opportunity to be facing a different classmate each time they get together. They also practice passing a ball around while repeating words with different beginning sounds. 

(from left) Joe Joseph, Pooya Mohseni, and Mary Apick 

The play, with its short scenes changing about, is funny, honest, oft times disappointing when one or the other struggles and wonders if it’s worth it. As one who has tried to learn a foreign language many times, let alone read it and failed, I can appreciate all of their feelings. 

Scenic design by Sadra Tehrani, lighting design by Amanda Zieve, costumes by Afsaneh Aayani and sound design be Megumi Katayama bring it all together setting the stage and look to be authentic especially, Afsaneh Aayani’s  beautifully colored scarves and head coverings, a basic look for women. in Iran 

(from left) Tara Grammy and Pooya Mohseni

“English” has its highs and lows , funny and serious moments. As noted, learning a new language can be frustrating, emotional, threatening and rewarding. 

For not your run of the mill plays, “English” is worth look see. 

Enjoy. 

See you at the theatre.

(from left) Pooya Mohseni, Tara Grammy, Ari Derambakhsh, Joe Joseph, and Mary Apick 

When:. Opens Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 25. Showtimes, 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays 

Where: Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park 

Tickets: $49 and up 

Phone: (619) 234-5623 

Photo:  Rich Soublet II.

Online: theoldglobe.org