Review: What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank , Marylebone Theatre

The snappily titled and not at all loaded What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank was seemingly turned down by one of London’s ‘major theatres’ for fear of sparking protests: well their loss is Marylebone Theatre’s gain.

Based on Nathan Englander‘s 2012 short story of the same name, this adaptation (also written by Englander, and notably rewritten in light of the events of 7 October 2023) centres on the reunion of old school friends. Both couples are Jewish: Shoshana (Dorothea Myer-Bennett) and Yerucham (Simon Yadoo) are Orthodox Jews living in Jerusalem, while Phil (Joshua Malina) and Debbie (Caroline Catz) are secular Jews living in Florida. Debbie and Shoshana were best friends in college but have not seen each other since their different religious paths led them apart. The distance between their secularism and orthodoxy is significant but bridged by copious amounts of vodka and pot as they debate, disagree and outright fight over aspects of their religious lives and beliefs – or lack thereof!

The evening unfolds with two hours of sharp, funny dialogue, though at times you may question if laughter is quite the right response. Thankfully, the argument doesn’t overstay its welcome, with the back-and-forth exchanges never becoming overwhelming. True to its title, the play tackles many hot-button issues. It isn’t long before mentions of Nazis and the Holocaust arrive, and early warnings of ‘don’t mention the war’ are quickly thrown aside. The current situation in Israel and Gaza soon becomes a key, weighty topic, though it is not the focus of the evening. There is a clear – perhaps too clear – attempt to maintain balance, with every viewpoint, including the more extreme ones, getting its moment. At times, this tightrope act feels a bit forced, detracting slightly from the authenticity of the characters and it can feel like as one point has been raised, another must now be addressed. Nevertheless, Patrick Marber’s direction ensures the pacing remains keen and engaging, keeping the audience fully absorbed throughout.

All of the cast deliver strong performances. Malina, who originally approached Marber to bring this production to London, plays the sardonic Phil with a sharp wit. Catz leans into the caricature of Debbie, mixing more humour into the role. Both Myer-Bennett and Yadoo convincingly portray the orthodoxy of their characters’ beliefs, but they also show their depth, ensuring Shoshana and Yerucham are not simply defined by their dogma. Their unexpected enthusiasm for getting high contrasts starkly with the more laid-back, less dogmatic Florida residents.

A highlight of the evening is Gabriel Howell, who plays Trevor, Phil and Debbie’s son. Trevor casually wanders onto the set to introduce each scene by its title. He effortlessly steals the spotlight each time: his deadpan delivery and knowing side-eye to the audience are perfect, leading to some of the evening’s biggest laughs. Although Trevor’s renunciation of Judaism and all organised religion in favour of Pastafarianism (also known as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster) is funny, it feels slightly dated, more a 2012 concept than one for 2024. 

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank offers an evening filled with laughter from a large amount of very, very dark humour. The play ends with a made up game called “Anne Frank”, where each character imagines which of their friends would hide them in a time of crisis, just as Anne Frank was once hidden. Despite the humour and the exploration of differing aspects of Judaism, the increasing rise of anti-Semitism casts a long shadow. In today’s world, an evening of laughter can still leave you with plenty to think about.

Written by: Nathan Englander
‍Directed by: Patrick Marber
‍Design by: Anna Fleischle

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank plays at Marylebone Theatre until Saturday 23rd November. Further information and tickets can be found here.