Astoria – Jack Studio Theatre

‘There is so much we will never know’.

Astoria written and directed by Tony Britten tells the story of Jura Soyfer, an Austrian political journalist and cabaret writer. His work was smuggled from Vienna and people worked hard to save it and archive it. The play is also the mouthpiece of this archive made visible in a performance. On stage we saw Jura Soyfer/Paul performed by Joshua Ginsberg, his partner Helli (Helene) Ultmann/Gwendolyn/Rosa (Olivia Benjamin,) as well as the group of actors and writers who were striving to keep the theater alive in a time where Germany is poised to annex Austria, in 1937, Jimmy Berg/Pistoletti/ The Applicant (Sam Denia), John Lehman (Taylor Danson), and Martin Miller/Hupka (Benjamin Chandler).

Astoria appeared to be challenging modern ideas of a state, one that has no lands. Is it an attempt to propose a solution? How are countries re-imagined after wars and conflicts? Astoria end up falling within the corrupted hands of leaders whose only focus are their accounts. Leaders… or dictators perhaps.

I would like to mention a few points, ones that did not allow me to fully relate to the truthfulness of the script what it depicts and left me unconvinced.

The drama lasts two hours with a fifteen-minute intermission and is divided into multiple acts. It seems that there was no apparent direction for the narration for the first hour and a half. The actors were taking up multiple roles. In other cases, it was difficult to tell when someone’s character changed because of how their attire or dialect changed (especially when depicting the vagabonds and the prostitute). I became captivated by the drama during the final 30 minutes as I followed Jura’s journey through the camp and his resolve to keep writing. The play’s cast ended it with an excellently performed song. The presence of Jura Soyfer singing the final few words with such an imposing attitude gave me shivers in the final seconds of the song.

After watching the last 30 minutes of the drama, I had the impression that the lack of clarity and the blending of characters, tales, and mise en abyme was an attempt to externalize both the absurdity of war and the people’s willingness to fight and continue engaging in political activity. I might use surrealism as a metaphor for this sensation. I would much rather see it done more deftly. At no point in the piece Jura’s erudite spirit is shown on stage as all the political conversations that happened were not deeply explored and would end up in small talks rather than understanding the intersection of his identity; being a Jewish and communist writer. The decision to have one woman portray different roles in a cast that is predominately male confused me. Surely, we are taken back to 1937 with specific contexts, but, operationally the choice did not fully convince me.

‘Humor and humanity could sustain no matter what … at least for a little while’. A powerful statement that led the play to and end and a note of hope and tribute to the life of Jura Soyfer.

Reviewer: Marita Matar

Reviewed: 30th March 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★