What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Marylebone Theatre, London
Cast: Joshua Malina, Caroline Catz, Dorothea Myer-Bennett, Simon Yadoo and Gabriel Howell

“Who in your life would you trust to keep you alive? And who do you know who would risk their own life  for yours?”

Based on the Pulitzer-finalist short story by Nathan Englander, don't miss this brand new serious-comedy starring West Wing and Big Bang Theory actor Joshua Malina, and directed by Leopoldstadt's Patrick Marber.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank goes where no production has dared to go in these politically charged times we are navigating. So often, we find ourselves avoiding polarizing conversations and yet, ‘What We Talk About..’ dives head first into the murky grey area, provoking and challenging the audience from act one.

There is a fascinating history behind the birth of this show in that it was being reworked for a British audience, just before the attacks on Gaza began. When the events of 7 October 2023 unravelled, Nathan Englander had to pause and reflect on what exactly this show was going to be amidst the war manifesting in Palestine.

WWTA is a play, introduced and narrated by Trevor (Gabriel Howell), the teenage son of Phil and Debbie, whose kitchen we spend the next two hours in as they welcome in Yerucham (Simon Yadoo) and Shoshana (Dorothea Myer-Bennett). Shoshana is Debbie’s old best friend from high school, who Debbie knew as ‘Lauren’ before she found the Jewish faith. Comedy is woven through the script from the jump, with Phil (Joshua Malina) delivering punch lines at every turn. Phil is outwardly hesitant to be welcoming towards the Orthodox Jewish couple as they visit Phil and Debbie in their Florida home - especially as the couple has just arrived from their home in Israel.

Debbie (Caroline Catz) expresses to Phil that he is not to bring up politics or make judgements toward her old friend and her husband, but we see that this will hardly last beyond the first twenty minutes of their visit. Through the first half of the show, we get to know each of the couples individually - soon, opinions are expressed and tensions rise as the two couples become more and more frustrated by their opposing worldviews. Namely, Phil and Yerucham who make no attempt at understanding one another. The ebb and flow of their conversations keep the audience gripped and laughing in outbursts at the incredibly written story unfolding in front of us.

The highlight of the show, however, is a performance from Gabriel Howell. I found myself holding my breath in the silent moments after this performance, processing the truth in his delivery. The audience will be left with chills as he delivers a spine tingling, raw and honest monologue that stops the two couples in their tracks.

The journey that we take with these five characters is made even more impressive by the fact that not a single bit of set design was moved. The staging from Anna Fleischle remained the same throughout the show and yet I never tired of it.

In summation, these performers have brought something truly special to the stage - the acting is impeccable and the emotion is palpable. What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank delivers on its promise of being a serious comedy, one that will surely stick with audiences long after they leave Marylebone Theatre. L'Chaim, indeed.

You can book tickets to What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, here.

Review by Miranda

**photo credit: Mark Senior**