Michael and I were looking forward to seeing Queens at La Jolla Playhouse since that’s the borough in which we both grew up in New York City.
Of course, that was pretty narrow thinking since this is definitely not the same Queens we experienced. And I guess that’s the point of the play.
The story of two generations of immigrant women living in a basement apartment in Queens, the show is especially timely and important, given what’s going on with immigration in our country today.
Queens was written by Martyna Majok, who just won the 2018 Pultizer Prize for Drama for Cost of Living. It opens with a young immigrant girl showing up at the building where Renia, another immigrant who used to live in the basement, is now the landlord. Her appearance brings back all kinds of memories for Renia, and the play switches between past and present to show us the toll her decisions have taken on her.
The women Renia lived with when she first moved to America are take-no-prisoners strong, willing to do whatever’s necessary to take care of their families. As they speak to and scream at each other in their broken English, their vulnerability and softness often surfaces, although it’s quickly shoved back behind the walls they’ve put up to survive in a land that either ignores or has contempt for them.
“When I open my mouth, my country’s entire history comes out,” says one character.
It’s a thought-provoking statement, as are so many of Majok’s lines, like “People stand on backs here. That’s stairs in this country – people’s backs” or the plea to an answering machine, “Don’t erase!” which has such a deeper meaning.
Queens is a powerful ensemble piece with solid performances by all. It may be about the immigrant experience but it’s a reminder that these people are not simply “immigrants.” They are individuals who have sacrificed so much for the glimmer of hope our country has provided.
If we take the time to listen and understand their stories, perhaps we will finally open our hearts and provide them with more than that.
Queens is running through July 29. For tickets and more information, visit the La Jolla Playhouse website.
Photo credit: Jim Carmody
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