A Couple of Poor, Polish-Speaking Romanians

With perfect timing, A Couple of Poor, Polish –Speaking Romanians hits many of today’s social and political buttons: immigration, integration, unemployment and - particularly with the recent wave of Polish immigrants into the UK - uncertainty as to the long-term effects of all three.

The play -  Dorota Maslowska’s first – is  a gripping tale of Parcha and Dzina’s journey across Poland after a hedonistic party. 
Poorly dressed with blackened teeth they smoke, drink, steal and terrorise the driver of the car they hijack. 

As they come down from their  epic high, the show descends into a slow and surreal spiral of events, continually blurring the lines between reality and the imagined.
We enter a world where the two are treated with fear and mistrust:  judged on their appearance and  nationality, and at times are literally left out in the cold ,outcasts from society.

Andrea Riseborough shines as Dzina - a glue-sniffing, unemployed, Polish-speaking Romanian single mother. 
Dzina’s energy and flippant attitude contrast with her controlled and considered monologues, provoking real empathy for this vulnerable and rounded character.

Romania is described as a messy, confusing place, and it is often used as a euphemism for disorganisation within the dialogue.

 Lisa Goldman’s direction clearly depicts the discomfort of the two as they try and integrate as ‘others’ in society
With simple shutter panels to reveal just a third or two-thirds of the stage at a time and  clever use of props the play is  grounded in visual references which are carried through from earlier scenes - effectively providing the audience with a hook, whilst on this journey through a rollercoaster of realities.

I was pleasantly surprised by this production :  the script was fantastic, the leading lady a joy to watch, and the direction carefully constructed.

 The play  allows us to enter a familiar world  through a different set of eyes:  through the clarity with which prejudices are highlighted, characters revealed, and burning issues discussed  we see some of the most important and emotive issues of our time take centre stage.

The Soho Theatre is fast becoming my theatre of choice to see new, innovative and frankly under-rated productions.
 I will definitely be returning to the Soho to see what delights it has in-store for the rest of the season, and expectantly await the next collaboration between Goldman and Maslowska whose production was the highlight of my week.  

Joanna Geneen

A Couple of Poor, Polish-Speaking Romanians, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE
Until 29th March , www.sohotheatre.com

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