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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. Wish You Were Here Also see Susan's reviews of Some Like It Hot, The Score and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Salme (Layan Elwazani) is preparing for her wedding as the play begins, joined by her friends Nazanin (Ellen Nikbakht), Zari (Ellena Eshraghi), Shideh (Shadee Vossoughi), and Rana (Ari Derambakhsh). They gossip, share dirty jokes, and don't pay attention to possible issues regarding religious observance; for example, four of them are Muslims who don't care that that their friend Rana is Jewish. They don't realize that the early stirrings of revolution will lead to severe Taliban rule and, incidentally, change their way of life and expectations for the future. The play covers 13 years of life and political experience in about 105 minutes, with no intermission. Omid Akbari's scenic design, representing a series of living rooms in the Tehran suburb of Karaj, is modern and a little austere with its pristine white upholstered furniture. As the years pass, the conversations among the women become a bit more restrained and the circle of friends begins to shrink. They stop wearing their trendy outfits (designed by Shahrzad Mazaheri, who also created a series of voluminous wedding gowns) and dress more conservatively, and some of them leave Iran, but the women continue to take each day as it comes. Wish You Were Here runs through November 1, 2026, at Studio Theatre, Mead Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW, Washington DC. For tickets and information, please call 202-332-3300 or visit www.studiotheatre.org. By Sanaz Toossi Cast: |
