dutch expats
Currently touring Dutch theaters, 'Expats' by Het Toneel Speelt is a scathing portrait of the current generation of Dutch 30-somethings. Written by Peter van de Witte and directed by Mark Rietman, this screwball comedy dripping with sarcasm lays bare the clueless complacency of the "wealthiest and happiest people in the world".
The play's arena is an expat compound in Beijing (though the sterile bubble of luxury could've been located anywhere in the globalized world) where five Dutch expats and one American are having a dinner party. Their evening takes a dramatic turn when they find a Chinese baby on the porch.
In trying to decide on a responsible course of action, it becomes apparent that these expats, who as a rule seem to get involved in local culture as little as possible, have completely lost their sense of normalcy. In typically Dutch fashion they try to build consensus among themselves, but their insulation has created a moral vacuum that no amount of postmodern irony can fill, and the solution they eventually reach is shockingly callous.
The play's pressure cooker situation is well suited to expose the egocentric insecurities and blunt provincialism of the Dutch characters, which are contrasted with the supple worldliness of their Chinese speaking American friend. Particularly well captured is the colloquial language, both in the soap opera superficialities ("Het is ook mijn avond hoor") and in the excruciating English of these Dutch people abroad ("Stop being so arelaxed").
Even if the characters remain somewhat schematic - the whole spectrum of career types is present, from the rude businessman to the spineless journalist - the mirror that 'Expats' holds up creates a hilarious and painfully recognizable image.