I was one of a select crowd at the opening night of Close Enough at the Exeter Phoenix last week. A one-woman show written and performed by Cristina Varga, Close Enough is a humorous yet deeply personal exploration of the immigrant experience. Varga, a 32-year-old Romanian woman who moved to England five years ago, combines comedy, song, and video elements to present an introspective and candid look at her journey.
The show opens with the usual theatre disclaimers—phones off, no interruptions. But Varga adds one more rule: “Improv is off limits.” She explains that as a non-native English speaker, she can only stick to the scripted conversations she has rehearsed in the shower. This instantly introduces one of the show’s recurring themes: the struggle of navigating a new language and culture in real time.
For an international audience or anyone who has ever attempted to master a second language, her anecdotes are instantly relatable. “Yes, I’ve learned English. Yes, I’ve done the exams and the tests. But no, when the barista asks me whether I want my coffee ‘here or take away,’ I don’t know what to say. That wasn’t in the script.” Her honesty about the constant fear of saying the wrong thing, the shame of having to ask someone to repeat themselves, and the anxiety of running out of vocabulary resonates with anyone who has ever felt like a linguistic outsider.
This instantly introduces one of the show’s recurring themes: the struggle of navigating a new language and culture in real time.
Varga moved to the UK just before Brexit and the Covid lockdowns — a turbulent period for anyone, especially an alienated immigrant over 1000 miles from home. She humorously recounts the financial challenges, highlighting her father having to put his savings plan for a “new second-hand 2004 Volkswagen Golf 5 Plus” on hold — a joke that recurs throughout the show. While most of her family and friends were supportive of her move, her grandmother’s reaction was less enthusiastic: “You need to stay here and make baby.” Yet beneath the humour, Varga taps into the emotional weight of emigration: “Why is everyone leaving?” A question that’s made more poignant when followed by heartwarming home videos of her childhood in Romania.
Varga moved to the UK just before Brexit and the Covid lockdowns — a turbulent period for anyone, especially an alienated immigrant over 1000 miles from home.
One of the show’s comedic highlights is a song detailing the unwritten rules of British social etiquette. Varga broke down the odd customs, from the instinctive need to apologise for everything, even when it’s not your fault, to the unspoken obligation of holding doors open, no matter how far away the other person is. There’s also the strange rule that once a door is held open for you, refusing to walk through it — even if you weren’t heading that way — is simply not an option. Social niceties extend to greetings as well: when asked how you are, the only acceptable response is “fine”— this isn’t an invitation for a real conversation. The song also captures the logic of British public transport, where waving at a bus is essential if you want it to stop. She relates how one should never let the gloomy weather affect one’s mood and, lastly, if someone offers you something, saying a direct ‘no’ is unheard of — you must find a roundabout way to decline. The song is both a comedic critique and a love letter to the quirks of British culture.
Determined not to be a “stereotypical Romanian immigrant,” Varga laughs at herself for inevitably becoming a cleaning lady during the pandemic. She shares advice from her fellow cleaners: “Spray the bottles in the air, pick up the big pieces off the floor. If it smells clean, they think it’s clean.” But beyond the jokes, she delivers a heartfelt realisation: it isn’t embarrassing unless you decide it is, and it doesn’t define you unless you let it.
Her performance taps into the constant anxiety of not quite belonging: feeling like a guest in a country, trying not to be a burden, never wanting to be too much. It’s a familiar sentiment for many immigrants, and Varga captures it with both humour and vulnerability.
Her performance taps into the constant anxiety of not quite belonging.
Beyond stand-up comedy, Close Enough employs mixed media to enhance its storytelling. A projector behind her shows, videos and karaoke-like lyrics, adding a unique performative layer to the production. The most striking moment comes at the end of the show: a video of her father driving into frame in his long-awaited new second-hand 2004 Volkswagen Golf 5 Plus. He steps out and holds up a British flag—a poignant and fitting conclusion to her journey.
Close Enough is a completely original piece, with Varga bravely drawing from her own experiences to craft an authentic and engaging show. While jokes were sometimes over-explained or extended beyond their punchline, the balance of comedy and emotional depth made the performance refreshing. The incorporation of video, music, and dance gave the production a unique edge, setting it apart from traditional stand-up or theatre.
Everything But Theatre, the emerging company behind the show, is pushing creative boundaries, and Close Enough is a testament to their innovative approach. It’s a show that speaks to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider while reminding us that sometimes, laughter is the best way to make sense of it all.
