Tender and funny, "English" at the Alley hits close to home
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"English" by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Evren Odcikin. Photo: Courtesy of Alley Theatre
Alley Theatre is running the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "English" for the next couple of weeks — and it's beautiful, funny at times and both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Why it matters: The play delves into the core of what many non-native English speakers — or anyone learning a new language — wrestle with: the cost of shifting identities and living between two tongues.
- In a city as diverse as Houston, the play's tensions feel close to home and offer a window into what many neighbors experience.
State of play: "English" follows four Iranian students enrolled in an English-learning class, studying for the language exam that could change their futures. Their teacher insists they speak only English in class.
- What starts as language practice unfolds into something tender and funny — capturing the quiet ache of translating yourself into someone new.
My thought bubble: The play encapsulates what it feels like to live between two languages. It takes on accents, the idea of home and the hope of accessing something more. Instead of skimming the surface, it goes to the heart of the struggle.
- The conversations onstage felt familiar: talks about name pronunciation at a café with friends. Being a student of brilliant, kind teachers with thick accents. Uber rides spent conversing with drivers about changed lives. And small exchanges with strangers in Houston.
- I laughed. I teared up. And I left grateful for being able to speak two languages.
What they're saying: "I think for people who have had similar experiences in their life, I hope that the play resonates with them — for anyone who's felt like they're caught between cultures or languages," Nima Rakhshanifar, a cast member who plays a student, tells Axios.
- "For audience members who maybe have never left their town or city that they grew up in, I hope it gives them an insight into just how much work it takes to learn another language, to make the decision to leave your home and go somewhere else for work, or for school or for family."
The bottom line: It's a deeply personal and beautiful play — the kind that makes you love and hate the fleeting nature of theater. See it while you can.
If you go: The 1.5-hour show with no intermissions runs through March 8.
- Tickets start at $45.