Iranian-American playwright Sanaz Toossi’s debut won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but drama is not what English is about. A gentle observational comedy that focuses on language as identity, it’s charming and compassionate.

Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of the play, which premiered off-Broadway in 2022, gathers culturally diverse talent on and off stage. Resident Director Tasnim Hossain guides a five-strong cast that includes actor, writer and comedian Osamah Sami, perhaps best known for feature film Ali’s Wedding.

Osamah Sami, Delaram Ahmadi, Maia Abbas and Marjan Mesbahi in Melbourne Theatre Company’s English. Photo © Pia Johnson

Set in Iran in 2008, Toossi’s 90-minute play unfolds during a semester of adult English classes. The four students want to pass the world-opening Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for reasons as different as their personalities. Between word games and role playing, we get glimpses into their lives as well as their teacher’s.

English offers limited drama, dangles rather than pursues a few intriguing plot lines, and mostly ignores the world beyond the classroom. While cultural imperialism is touched on, this play is barely concerned with politics or racism.

Some may find this unsatisfying, while...