A Masterclass in Storytelling: Elena Lozonschi's Captivating Performance in Girls and Boys at The Tank
I was moved
We are nearly halfway through summer and I’ve been seeing ALOT of theatre. Some good, some…not so much. But because I like to focus more on the positive, I’ve been thinking about a show that I saw last month that I really want to write about because it was seriously moving. It’s a British play performed by a Romanian actress - as a Brit, I was skeptical, but it’s nice to be pleasantly surprised.
Elena Lozonschi’s one-woman performance of Dennis Kelly’s Girls and Boys at The Tank in New York is nothing short of a theatrical tour de force. This 90-minute monologue, delivered with unflinching honesty and emotional depth, underscores Elena’s prowess as a masterful storyteller, skillfully navigating the play's harrowing narrative with a maturity and grace that few can muster.
Elena, a Romanian actor based in NYC, is renowned for her versatility in classical and contemporary theater. Her passion for human behavior and the intricacies of the human psyche shines through in this performance, making her the perfect fit for Kelly’s demanding script. Girls and Boys unfolds through the perspective of an unnamed woman recounting her journey from meeting the man of her dreams to the ultimate tragedy that befalls her family. Elena’s portrayal captures the character’s initial humor and charm, drawing the audience into her world with ease.
The play begins with lighthearted anecdotes, such as the woman meeting her future husband in an EasyJet queue, and Elena's comedic timing had the audience laughing and engaged. These moments of levity are interspersed with mimed interactions with her absent children, Leanne and Danny, where Elena’s nuanced performance highlights the subtle differences between her daughter and son, underscoring her deep understanding of the human condition.
However, it is the transition to the play's darker themes where Elena truly shines. As the narrative takes a devastating turn, revealing the disintegration of the protagonist's marriage and the horrific murder of her children by her estranged husband, Elena’s delivery becomes hauntingly poignant. She looks directly at the audience, her eyes conveying a depth of pain and despair that is both palpable and heart-wrenching. It is in these moments that Elena’s emotional maturity and experience as an actor are most evident, handling the play’s heavy content with a sensitivity and intensity that commands unwavering attention.
In the hands of a lesser actor, Girls and Boys could easily falter, but Elena’s performance ensures it does not. Her ability to balance the light and dark aspects of the story, her seamless transition between humor and horror, and her capacity to evoke a visceral emotional response from the audience are testaments to her exceptional talent. Having had issues with one-woman or one-man shows in the past, often finding it difficult to maintain focus, I was completely absorbed by Elena’s performance. She had me both laughing and crying, a testament to her skill in bringing this complex, deeply affecting story to life.
Elena Lozonschi’s portrayal in Girls and Boys is a powerful reminder of the impact of raw, honest storytelling. Elena's dedication to creating a community where such storytelling thrives is truly inspiring as she continues to grow and strive for excellence in her craft, with exciting projects like a fresh take on Macbeth on the horizon. Her performance at The Tank is a compelling example of why she is a force to be reckoned with in the world of theater.