“Queens” Explodes the immigrant Narrative with Raw Power and Stellar performances
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A new production of Martyna Majok’s play delivers a searing examination of exploitation, community, and the arduous choices faced by immigrants in america.
The Manhattan Theatre Club’s revival of “Queens,” which opened tonight, is a mesmerizing and deeply affecting work of theater. Featuring a remarkable ensemble cast – Brooke Bloom, anna Chlumsky, Sharlene Cruz, Marin Ireland, Julia Lester, Nadine Malouf, Andrea Syglowski, and Nicole Villamil – the play, a revision of Majok’s 2018 piece, captures the lives of women from Ukraine, Honduras, Afghanistan, and poland navigating precarious circumstances in a crowded Queens basement apartment across two timelines: 2001 and 2017.
A Compendium of Global Struggles
Majok’s expansive work doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities faced by those seeking a better life, or simply striving to support loved ones back home. the specifics of each woman’s situation, while powerfully portrayed, are deliberately presented as both “immaterial to critical analysis and entirely the point.” This duality underscores the play’s central argument: that the individual stories are less vital than the systemic forces – the “world’s ails” – that drive migration and the formation of often-fragile communities.
The play boldly challenges the notion that the powerless are always victims, exploring the ways in which thay can, and sometimes do, perpetuate cycles of exploitation.
Did you know?-The play deliberately avoids focusing on individual narratives, instead emphasizing the systemic issues driving immigration.
As one observer noted, “Queens” directly confronts the often-repeated claim that America is a nation of immigrants who have always supported each other, revealing a far more complex and often troubling truth. it’s a blistering takedown of that “campaign trail truism.”
A Play Rooted in exhaustion and Disillusionment
However, this is not a simple polemic. Majok’s “righteous politics” are evident not in didactic pronouncements, but in the nuanced care she invests in each character and their backstory. The play’s emotional resonance, according to one analysis, stems from a palpable “exhaustion with immigrant double-consciousness,” a feeling amplified when those seeking progress find themselves complicit in regressive actions.
The decision to place a significant portion of the moral failings within the Polish characters – Majok’s own heritage – is particularly striking.
Pro tip:-Pay attention to the casting choices; Majok uses her own background to add layers of complexity to the critique.
It suggests a broader critique: that the pursuit of upward mobility can lead to a pulling up of ladders, not just by americans, but by immigrants themselves, denying opportunities to those who follow.
Staging and Performances Elevate the Narrative
Trip Cullman’s staging is largely prosperous, attentive to both the interior lives of the characters and the audience’s experience of spending nearly three hours within a single, deliberately unglamorous set. While the production occasionally veers into a slightly contrived “metaphysical bent” during transitions, the overall affect is immersive and impactful.Marsha Ginsberg’s scenic design, enhanced by Ben Stanton’s “haunting lighting,” culminates in a particularly striking visual moment at the close of the first act.
Amidst a uniformly strong ensemble, Anna Chlumsky’s initial appearance stands out for its raw emotional power. She delivers lines in a language unfamiliar to most audience members, yet her meaning is promptly and powerfully conveyed. This is mirrored by Marin Ireland’s response, which achieves a quality akin to a “silent scream: unthinkable, impenetrable, worldwide.”
Reader question:-How dose the play’s setting contribute to its overall message?
The cramped,unglamorous basement apartment visually represents the precariousness and limitations faced by the characters.
“Queens” is in performance through December 7,2025,at New York City Center Stage I on West 55th Street in New York City. For tickets and more facts,visit here.
