The American Dream

Ironbound

Darja was optimistic when she immigrated from Poland to the United States with her husband, Maks. They were in their 20’s back then. Both of them were confident about the promise of living the American Dream, hoping to have a better life with a nice home, a fancy car, a decent-paying job and the chance for their own personal happily-ever-after. But that illusion soon dissolved into a nightmare. The couple’s new reality turned into a multitude of hardships, which included prejudice, financial austerity and a relationship that fell apart. 

We meet Darja several years later, sitting at a bleak, graffiti-defaced bus stop in the multi-ethnic, working class Ironbound neighborhood of New Jersey. Tommy, Darja’s boyfriend (played with humor and chutzpah by Richie Villafuerte), suddenly shows up. He tries to cajole his girlfriend into accepting his offer to drive them to their shared apartment. Obviously angry with Tommy about something, Darja says she would rather take the bus and then walk home alone through the mean streets of Newark, rather than ride with him. Finally we learn why she’s so angry: Tommy’s been having an affair with another woman, for whom Darja works cleaning her house. Then we discover that Tommy’s spare time’s filled with many, many other women.

We learn that Darja is now 42. She works odd jobs to help pull her weight while living with Tommy. She’s been married twice and her second marriage was a horribly abusive relationship. The play constantly bounces around in time, which takes some getting used to. It begins with Tommy in 2014, then goes back twenty-two years earlier when Darja was married to Maks (charmingly portrayed by a charismatic Nate Santana), her first husband from Poland. Maks dreams of moving to Chicago and breaking into the jazz music scene. But Darja is far more practical. She’s works full time at the clothing factory, just across the street, and picks up additional income by cleaning people’s homes. She’s also pregnant with the couple’s first child, who we later discover will be her son. Although we never actually see him, we learn that the boy will grow up troubled. He’ll steal Darja’s car, flee his abusive home situation and become a drug addict.

Although the play keeps popping back to 2014, one of the most moving scenes occurs when we find a badly bruised Darja taking refuge for the night at the bus stop. She’s run away from her abusive second husband and has no money and nowhere to go. Vic (brilliantly brought to life by the terrific young actor, Glenn Obrero) is an enterprising high school student from an affluent family. He secretly earns extra pocket cash as a male hustler. Tonight, after a particularly profitable trick, Vic’s meeting some of his buddies at the bus top. When he discovers Darja, battered and sleeping on the shelter’s dirty floor, Vic gradually drops his tough-guy act and attempts to befriend her. He tries to walk Darja to a women’s shelter, or treat her to a hotel room, or even let her spend the night in his own home. But Darja has lost her trust in men and refuses Vic’s kindness. In a final attempt to help Darja, the young man tries to at least give her some money.

Directed with grit and gusto by Georgette Verdin, this is a powerful look at the plight of the immigrant in the US. It’s a condemnation that, perhaps, the American Dream isn’t meant for everyone. Ms. Verdin recently directed a sensational production of DIAL M FOR MURDER at Northlight, and guided a wonderful production for Grippo Stage of CHAGALL IN SCHOOL. Her current presentation is guided with emotion and empathy, and features a talented cast led by the talented Lucy Carapetyan, as Darja. Recently seen at Raven Theater in RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN and NICE GIRL, Lucy has been seen on stages all over Chicago. As Darja, Ms. Carapetyan never leaves the stage throughout the 80-minute drama, and by the end of the play this gifted actress has unveiled every facet of this immigrant woman.

The promise of living the American Dream seldom becomes reality for many, especially idealistic immigrants arriving here with the hopes of a better life. But somehow, despite being knocked down over and over again, those with moxie and determination do survive. Polish-born playwright Martyna Majok’s drama is laced with enough dry, unexpected humor to keep Darja’s story from being a total downer. Ms. Majok is already well-known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning debut play, COST OF LIVING, as well as SANCTUARY CITY and QUEENS. Raven Theater’s polished production of IRONBOUND will definitely help make Martyna Majok a household name. Theatergoers will certainly revel in Darja’s pluck and determination. The “ironbound” character’s ability to survive and maneuver her way through what’s left of the American Dream make her a character audiences won’t soon forget.    

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 26-27 by Raven Theatre Company, 6157 N. Clark Street.

Tickets are available at the box office or by going to www.raventheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.