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Sometimes I think you’re able to only speak one language, says a character in Sanaz ToossisEnglish.

From ‘English,’ at the Roundabout’s Todd Haimes Theatre.

Its a floating, gliding gesture.

It is like some rice.

English is the rice.

You take some rice and you make the rice whatever you want.

Its premiere three years ago at the Atlantic Theater Company won Toossi the 2023 Pulitzer for Drama.

(The Atlantic has officially stated that the shows are postponed.)

Their teacher, Marjan (Marjan Neshat), is buoyant and elegant, a true believer.

Speaking English, she tells her students, is one of the greatest things two people can do together.

We are not even on this continent.

Today I will ask you to feel any pull you have to your Iranian-ness, and let it go.

Keep it outside the wall of this classroom.

snaps one of them as they struggle through a listening comprehension exercise where Omid supplies all the answers).

He also hides secrets and nurtures a quiet crush on his teacher, and she on him.

(Why did you go there?

he asks Marjan, who returned to Iran after living in England for nine years.

Hugh Grant, she replies.

Why did you come back?

he says, and she gives a resigned half-smile: He wasnt there.)

In Farsi, they can gossip, dream, complain, wonder, worry, and imply.

Englishisnt the only playto employ this particular language trick, but Toossis handling of it is especially thoughtful.

You only find teeth like this in the west …

They could rip through wire.

In a good way.

And also I am care-y.

I care about the world and and … Why do you only like everything in English?

The answer is painful and palpable, though it may not exist in words, no matter the language.

Englishis at the Todd Haimes Theatre through March 2.

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