A heartfelt story about belonging and finding the meaning of home in a vast world, but with some erratic moments, making the story sometimes difficult to follow.Rating
Good!
What do Lady Macbeth, potatoes, English Breakfast tea, and dancing with bubbles all have in common? They are all topics in the production of Foreign Girl, an autobiographical piece written and performed by Anastasiya Ador. Foreign Girl details Ador’s story thus far; originally born in Belarus, but completely enamoured with the notion of moving out of her home country and becoming successful elsewhere, whilst growing up. Throughout her journey, Ador encounters multiple opportunities and setbacks. From originally wanting to go to America and having her visa denied, to moving to India, where she studies dance, learns to speak Hindi, and becomes captivated by Bollywood, Ador eventually arrives in the UK and is determined to stay as a performer with a Global Talent Visa.
Foreign Girl is a deeply personal production; Ador continually delves back and forth with stories about the past, telling the audience about her family, her father, who writes poetry, her mother’s flirtatious nature, and her siblings who live in Poland and Ukraine, and then brings us back to her present situation. The premise of her story is profound and heartfelt, but scattered. One moment she is telling a touching story about visiting her sister, the next moment she is running around with a nun’s habit on her head as a visual to show her desire to be ‘baptised’ into British society and culture. Ador does remain focused on her storyline, but it can leave one feeling dizzy with such a dispersed narrative.
The story is insightful and beautiful. Throughout the production, Ador changes her appearance multiple times, which helps enhance her story as she moves on and off the stage with boundless energy. Ador moves very quickly, almost like a whirlwind; she is either dancing or zooming about the stage constantly. She interacts with the audience and actively encourages them to engage with her, from clapping along to answering the various questions she poses. This sometimes felt too fast-paced and difficult to follow. Throughout her constant movement, the lighting and sound manage to follow her in an impressive manner, making the performance all the more enjoyable to watch.
Foreign Girl is a production about belonging and finding ‘home,’ which it manages to achieve. Ador’s global journey trying to find her place in the world is not easy, but rather a rollercoaster full of ups, downs, loops, and spins without a dull moment. It’s a fast-paced production with an unforgettable story and audience participation, but it could do with some tightening up of dialogue to ensure it is coherent throughout.
Writer & Performer: Anastasiya Ador
Director: Rachel D’Souza
Foreign Girl has completed its initial run but returns at The Lambet Fringe Monday 13 October
