Detailed Summary of WNYC’s "All Of It" Podcast Episode: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play 'English' Returns for a Broadway Run

Episode Release Date: February 19, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of ALL OF IT, host Alison Stewart delves into the Broadway revival of "English," a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sanaz Toosi. Broadcasted by WNYC and supported by Progressive Insurance, the episode features insightful conversations with playwright Sanaz Toosi and original cast members Marjane Neshat and Tala Ashi. The discussion provides a comprehensive look into the play’s themes, character dynamics, and the experiences of bringing it to a Broadway audience.

Overview of the Play "English"

"English" is a poignant exploration of language and identity set in an Iranian town. The narrative revolves around an English class preparing for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The class comprises four diverse students:

• Roya: The eldest student planning to emigrate to Canada with her family.
• Guli: The youngest, a teenager without immediate future plans.
• Omed: Demonstrates near-native proficiency in English.
• Elam: Ambitious and determined, Elam is accepted into a competitive medical program in Australia contingent upon passing the TOEFL—a test she has attempted five times.

At the helm is their teacher, Marjane, portrayed by Marjane Neshat, whose complex relationship with the English language forms the emotional core of the play. Through these characters, the play interrogates how language can both transform and fracture personal identity.

Broadway Production Details

The Broadway production of "English" runs until March 2, 2025, at the Todd Haimes Theatre. Featuring the original cast, this revival amplifies the play’s impact, bringing it to a broader and more diverse audience. Alison Stewart highlights the transition from off-Broadway to Broadway, emphasizing the play’s continued relevance and the original cast’s dedication.

Insights from Playwright Sanaz Toosi

Sanaz Toosi shares her journey from the play’s inception to its Pulitzer acclaim and Broadway debut:

“When we did this play off Broadway in 2022, it was my first production ever. I had no idea what I was doing. [...] And then we found the play and the play became ours. And so to have it be on Broadway is really dizzying. But it was terrifying at first.”
[Sanaz Toosi, 01:59]

Toosi reflects on the extensive rewrites and the transformative realization of having a cohesive play during their first preview. The move to Broadway, while exhilarating, also brings a sense of vulnerability and the challenge of maintaining the play’s original magic on a larger stage.

Actor Experiences: Marjane Neshat and Tala Ashi

Marjane Neshat discusses her debut in "English":

“For me, it felt like impossible. Like, for me, it felt like impossible. And so it's kind of a dream.”
[Marjane Neshat, 02:52]

Neshat expresses her elation and disbelief at realizing her Broadway dreams through a play she deeply loves, highlighting the intimate and profound nature of the work.

Tala Ashi shares her perspective on performing in a Broadway production:

“We always say, you know, kids dream about being on Broadway, but this specific confluence of events that brought us here is so special. [...] Being able to put that in front of, you know, 700 people a night is incredible.”
[Tala Ashi, 03:26]

Ashi emphasizes the importance of approaching her role with a beginner’s mindset despite her extensive acting experience. She underscores the play’s themes of transformation and empathy, appreciating the opportunity to share its powerful message with a larger audience.

Exploring Themes and Character Dynamics

The play intricately examines the interplay between language and identity, particularly through the characters of Marjane and Elham.

Sanaz Toosi elaborates on the contrasting motivations of these characters:

“The conflict of the play really lives between the two of them. This idea that language can be, you know, learning a new language can be transformative [...] And then Elham represents, you know, the other side of that, which is it's actually can be traumatic to leave language behind because language is tied to identity.”
[Sanaz Toosi, 04:37]

The antagonistic relationship between Marjane and Elham highlights the tension between embracing a new language for personal growth and the pain of leaving one’s native language, which is deeply intertwined with identity.

Elham's Struggles and Anger

Tala Ashi delves into Elham's emotional turmoil:

“A young, ambitious, tenacious woman would feel not only angry, but would then, you know, want to pursue higher education elsewhere, but feel very frustrated that English is the barrier to entry [...] she feels, she says in the play, I feel like an idiot. That is incredibly demoralizing and angering.”
[Tala Ashi, 06:40]

Elham’s righteous anger stems from repeated failures to pass the TOEFL, undermining her self-esteem and thwarting her aspirations. This frustration is compounded by the sociopolitical context of Iran in 2008, adding layers to her character’s emotional landscape.

Production Choices and Techniques

One of the notable production choices in "English" is the use of accents during English-speaking scenes:

“When the characters are speaking Farsi in the play, the actors actually speak fluent English, but when the characters are learning and speaking English, the actors speak with accents. It takes everybody a minute at the beginning. You're like, wait a minute. [...] it was just important, you know, for us to give.”
[Sanaz Toosi, 13:18]

This bilingual approach enhances authenticity, reflecting the characters’ internal struggles with language proficiency. It also allows the audience to viscerally experience the discomfort and challenges faced by non-native English speakers.

Humor and Communication

Balancing humor without making accents a punchline is a delicate task addressed by the cast:

“We have a really brilliant director who, from the day one, was like, you can't ask for the laugh, and you can't, like, make a meal of it. You just have to be trying to communicate.”
[Marjane Neshat, 15:04]

The actors aim to portray genuine attempts at communication, letting humor arise naturally from the situations rather than relying on stereotypes or mockery.

Audience Reactions and Interpretation

The play’s conclusion, featuring a final exchange in Farsi without subtitles, is a deliberate choice to immerse the audience in the characters' emotional experiences:

“If you, for 30 seconds, cannot stand the discomfort of not understanding what people are saying, then I think you missed the whole play.”
[Sanaz Toosi, 16:52]

Toosi encourages the audience to embrace the play's linguistic barriers, emphasizing that discomfort is integral to fully grasping the characters' struggles and the play’s overarching themes.

Conclusion

This episode of ALL OF IT offers a profound exploration of "English" as it makes its Broadway debut. Through in-depth discussions with Sanaz Toosi and the original cast, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the play’s intricate examination of language, identity, and the human condition. The thoughtful production choices and authentic performances underscore the play’s critical acclaim and its enduring relevance in contemporary theatre.

Notable Quotes:

• Sanaz Toosi on recognizing the play’s potential: “[...] we understood finally that we had a play.” [01:59]
• Marjane Neshat on her Broadway debut: “For me, it felt like impossible. [...] it's kind of a dream.” [02:52]
• Tala Ashi on Elham’s righteous anger: “...she feels, she says in the play, I feel like an idiot. That is incredibly demoralizing and angering.” [06:40]
• Sanaz Toosi on language as transformation vs. identity: “The conflict of the play really lives between the two of them. [...] learning a new language can be transformative.” [04:37]
• Sanaz Toosi on the use of accents: “[...] it was just important, you know, for us to give.” [13:38]

This summary encapsulates the essence of the podcast episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened while preserving the depth and nuances of the original discussion.