Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Whatever your view on the cultural politics, this is a brilliant piece of writing, dramaturgically rich, poetic and humorous, clearly based in lived experience and sufficiently nuanced to impress even relativists like me who are interested in the old liberal counterpoint. The acting here is formidable, especially from Nikki Massoud as Elham, the competitive and frustrated student who most challenges the teacher and thus most expresses the authorial point of view."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...With “English,” now playing at the Goodman Theatre, playwright Sanaz Toossi has crafted a sublime play that makes us feel hyper-attuned throughout to what’s happening inside the play’s characters, even when much of the dialogue might superficially be covering their favorite color, or their efforts to list items one might find in a kitchen as a means of building their vocabulary."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...The acting is impressive. Bibiyan exquisitely conveys the anguish Roya feels being unable to communicate with her granddaughter as well as the poignant realization that mastering English may not guarantee a relationship. Massoud is equally compelling as an impassioned young woman determined to secure her future without sacrificing her identity."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Dehghani made his professional directing debut in Chicago earlier this year with Northlight Theatre’s searing, emotionally rich production of Sylvia Khoury’s Selling Kabul. English should cement his reputation hereabouts as a director of formidable gifts. A taut hour and 45 minutes, the production is never less than riveting, whether you’re monolingual or a master of multiple languages."
Let's Play Theatrical Reviews - Recommended
"...English, a play written by Sanaz Toossi, an Iranian American playwright, is set in 2008 in Karaj, Iran, in a classroom bustling with energy. A small cohort of students has eagerly registered for an English language course, each to refine their linguistic skills. At the helm of this educational journey stands Marjan, a poised and dignified English teacher portrayed by Roxanna Hope Radja. Her unwavering insistence on the exclusive use of English within the classroom sets the tone for a challenging yet rewarding learning environment."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...Another Chicago premiere, and this one, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by Sanaz Toosi, dealing with a classroom as four Iranians, where they are told, “English Only” as they prepare themselves to take a test that will allow them to move their lives forward. This is a one act play of 100 minutes designed to allow you to be the “fly on the wall” watching the story unveil."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Mastering and speaking the English language fluently can be daunting, at best. Learning a new language isn't easy for anyone because Language is, in reality, a large part of our identity. To learn any new language requires a unique mindset and a willingness to change the student's identity. This is especially true for the four characters in this play. Remembering this, as we laugh through the students' role playing games, their awkward show-and-tell sessions and other learning activities that Marjan uses in her teaching, we see that our Language and our Identities are intimately connected."
Buzznews.net - Highly Recommended
"...Language may be the backbone of human communication, but there's a lot that happens between the lines. Sanaz Toosi's 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner 'English' explores what we learn when studying a new language. Director Hamid Dehghani assembles an all-Iranian cast for Goodman Theatre's Chicago debut of this exciting new play."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Highly Recommended
"...Feeling like you are not fully capable of expressing your deepest thoughts and emotions with utmost clarity is like navigating the world with one hand tied behind your back. Additionally, it may make some people feel as if they are rejecting their culture while others who achieve the elusive goal of total proficiency might feel a euphoric sense of accomplishment and pride at being able to straddle two worlds, indeed two ways of thinking."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Sanan Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning English, now playing at the Goodman Theatre, follows a small classroom in Karaj, Iran where students are being prepped for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Their teacher, Marjan (Roxanna Hope Radja) has lived nine years in England and believes strongly in immersion: she has a "No Farsi" rule in the classroom."
City Pleasures - Highly Recommended
"...With her fire, dexterity of mind and brazen bluntness, Massoud as Elham will likely be the favorite of many. Excellent in the role, Massoud’s spirit of determination and spontaneous mischief energizes the production tremendously. But Radja in her role of Marjan is equally compelling in the way she copes with the lingering regret about the choice she ultimately made. And although Roya is not a dominant character, the way Bibiyan embodies her pride is like watching someone attain the majestic as she comes to a fateful realization and decision."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...The small group of actors is magnificently cast, each ideally suited to their role. Shadee Vossoughi radiates energy as the sunny Goli. Sahar Bibiyan brings an earnestness and humanity to Roya, beautifully embodying her longing for greater closeness with her family. Pej Vahdat is honest and vulnerable as the reserved Omid. Roxanna Hope Radja brings nuance to the surprisingly complicated Marjan, and Nikki Massoud is exceptional as Elham, imbuing the character with both passion and humanity."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Goodman Theatre's magnificent production of Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "English" is a humorous, weighty one-act that offers a profound commentary on the complexities of cultural identity, belonging, and humanity."
