photo credit: Robert Husky/SCR

Written by Patrick Chavis

Wish You Were Here will be playing at South Coast Repertory from Jan 12 to Feb 2, 2025.

A compelling concept interweaves into this narrative around identity, friendship, and what bonds us to a particular place—a satisfying beginning and powerful ending  is unfortunately held back by an unengaging middle.

Wish You Were Here is set around the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution. The play comically chronicles a decade of friendship among five women doing their best to live their everyday lives during an incredibly uncertain period in Iranian history.

Story:

Conceptually, when I think about the deeper themes, the playwright and Orange County native, Sanaz Toossi, attempts to communicate in this play, it’s challenging not to be in awe of what I see as a brilliant, honest perspective around friendship, community, and the psychological and mental strife war has on people. When you take the whole story in, it’s heartbreaking. I’m tearing up a little bit. In many ways, I identify with many of these women and the struggles set out by the playwright, the director, and, of course, the actresses who put on the show. This Iranian story is universal about what’s important in life and what ties us to a place.

South Coast Repertory presents “Wish You Were Here” by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Mina Morita. Cast: Awni Abdi-Bahri (Nazanin), Sahar Bibyan (Rana), Tara Grammy (Salme), Mitra Jouhari (Zari) and Artemis Pebdani (Shideh). Julianne Argyros Stage, January 12 – February 2, 2025

It’s heavy and requires a lot of nuance to tell a story of this magnitude. This play largely succeeds at that, which is fantastic. That being said, this show is not just a drama. It’s advertised as a comedy. Comedically, this piece, especially as the show progresses, misses the mark, but not because of the acting. The actresses in this show are excellent in this full stop. A lot of the comedic moments don’t hit like they need to, lessening the impact of the play overall. Raunchy can be funny with the right setup and delivery, but it doesn’t always equate to being funny. Many of the “jokes” fall into that category.  Writing funny material is incredibly difficult, and I can imagine it is even more so when you write a play about women in a situation that’s not very funny.

South Coast Repertory presents “Wish You Were Here” by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Mina Morita. Cast: Awni Abdi-Bahri (Nazanin), Sahar Bibyan (Rana), Tara Grammy (Salme), Mitra Jouhari (Zari) and Artemis Pebdani (Shideh). Julianne Argyros Stage, January 12 – February 2, 2025

Set Designer/Lighting:

Gorgeous layered Iranian living room design from scenic designer Afsoon Pajoufar, he uses the width and depth of the stage to focus on the characters’ ongoing drama. There is a red floor and matching red carpet. A wooden table sits in the middle of the stage with a green couch behind it.  Followed by a space in the back with growing potted plants. A visually stunning part of the design is the obscured glass that shows the mannequin of wedding dresses; in combination with the lighting, they create a lovely visual.

South Coast Repertory presents “Wish You Were Here” by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Mina Morita. Cast: Awni Abdi-Bahri (Nazanin), Sahar Bibyan (Rana), Tara Grammy (Salme), Mitra Jouhari (Zari) and Artemis Pebdani (Shideh). Julianne Argyros Stage, January 12 – February 2, 2025

Acting:

At least to me, Mitra Jouhari (Zari) is one of the more relatable characters in the story. Jouhari’s ability to translate positivity on stage, even during the more daunting dramatic moments, helps tremendously.

A surprisingly vulnerable and understated performance from Awni Abdi-Bahri (Nazanin) takes the final moments of this play to somewhere very special.

Review

7.9 Overall

0 Users (0 votes)

Story7.5

Acting8.3

Set & Design8.4

Costumes8.2

Entertainment7.3

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Above Average!