Review: THE WANDERERS, Marylebone Theatre
Photo credit: Mark Senior
The Wanderers is a play about marriage: two couples in different decades but unified by their struggles with love, identity and belonging. Written by Anna Ziegler, she has been inspired by her own religious identity and centred the story around how religion influences the choices we make.
Esther and Schmuli are Orthodox Jews navigating the strict rules that define their lives. Whereas Sophie and Abe are Jew-ish contending with the freedoms that accompany a largely secular life. But you often want what you don’t have and both couples struggle with the pressures of expectation and definitions of success. Abe is a prize-winning author striving for his next big hit but limited by his insecurities, whereas Sophie just wishes she could write more. When Abe receives an email from famous actress Julia Cheever, it ignites a spark in him but his continued correspondence threatens his marriage. Schmuli and Esther are motivated by tradition and the desires of the Hasidic community to repopulate following the Holocaust. But this shared history is not enough to cultivate success in their arranged marriage. Esther, and Sophie, both struggle with the pressures of being a good mother and yearn for greater independence.
The Wanderers is thoughtful, considered and beautifully written, and the language is incredibly poetic. However, at times, the story is too tidy. The ending is overwrought and neatly wraps up any loose ends which feels wrong for a play called The Wanderers. The story is engaging and thought-provoking but often lacks pace. The set - a simple table and chairs and series of clear screens which the cast draw on with white markers - allows the show to switch between the couples. However, occasionally, the boundaries between the narratives are unclear. The direction by Igor Golyak is inconsistent and often static. The electronic communication between Abe and Julia has its limitations and perhaps more time could have been dedicated to the relationship between Schmuli and Esther or Sophie’s mixed-race heritage.
The play centres around how you want to be seen and seeing your partner for who they truly are. The cast all deliver wonderfully nuanced performances to match the complexities of their characters. Moments of revelation form the standout scenes which chronicle the final straws in the breakdown of both marriages. The raw emotion displayed by Katerina Tannenbaum and Paksie Vernon as Esther and Sophie is outstanding. Tannenbaum’s emotion clashes with the reserved Eddie Toll as Schmuli. We wish Vernon had more material to demonstrate her talent as Sophie is overshadowed by Abe, played sensitively by Alexander Forsyth. Anna Popplewell completes the cast as the glamourous and alluring Julia.
The Wanderers is full of potential, but this highly anticipated New York transfer is too introspective and lacks vibrancy.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Luck
The Wanderers plays at London’s Marylebone Theatre until 29 November, with further info here.
