TAKE A BOW
Now that you've seen the show, let's unpack.
Evaluating works of art can be challenging. Let's walk through some guided questions and activities to round out your experience.
1. ON THE BUS
Here are some questions that you can use to guide conversation on the way back to school:
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Is there an antagonist? Who is it? Why? (Is there more than one?)
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What was your favorite part of the story?
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Was there a particular technical element that stuck out to you?
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What do you "wonder?" Meaning - what would you like to learn more about
2. CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
EXPLORING THEMES
Guide a classroom discussion on the themes of English, some of which are listed below. Then, use the attached lesson plan to explore these themes in more depth.
Language and Identity
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The struggle to learn English is not just academic, and characters wrestle with how speaking English changes their sense of who they are.
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Marjan says, “I always liked myself better in English,” while Elham insists, “I like Elham when she speaks Farsi.”
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Does adopting a new language mean losing part of yourself? Or can it expand who you are? Can you create examples that support both sides of the coin?
Belonging and Cultural Identity
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The characters in this play are not only learning a different language, but are also exploring what it means to live in a different country where English is spoken.
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Does living your life in more than one culture or language dilute the others?
Bias Around Accent
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Characters in the play speak with varying degrees of fluency and accent.
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Does speaking a language with an accent have any correlation to intelligence? Why can some people have no accent, while others struggle their whole life?
Connection and Isolation
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Language is portrayed as a bridge — and sometimes a barrier — to intimacy. Roya’s heartbreak over not being able to speak fluently with her granddaughter shows how language can fracture family ties.
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Is language our most important tool for connection? What else do we need besides spoken words?
3. CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
POST-SHOW REVIEW
Use the lesson plan below to help guide students through an activity that unpacks the experience of seeing the show with a critical review of the production.
A DEEPER LOOK
Behind the scenes: Visit the show page on our website for more.
Discover videos, photos, and press coverage about the show, as well as more information about the creative team (playwright, director, and designers), and behind the scenes photos and stories at the bottom of the page!
Visit the English show page for more about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @alleytheatre for updates and behind the scenes about each upcoming production.
THANK YOU!
"HOUSTON, THIS IS YOUR THEATRE!"
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