Chicago Tribune
- Highly Recommended
"...Though its setting is quite distinct, this play speaks to both the difficulty and importance of maintaining relationships during periods of political turbulence and rising social isolation - themes that will be relatable for anyone who feels exhausted by living through unprecedented times. At one point, Zari asks if it's idiotic to think that things will ever go back to normal. As the world spins beyond our control, perhaps the best we can do is hold tightly to those we love, no matter the miles between us."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...As middle-class suburban women, they no doubt had more options than most at the time did (to emigrate or tough it out in their homeland), yet the choices each of them made add up to heartbreaking sacrifice; trading friendship for education abroad, community for safety, or career plans for survival. It is these revelations that make Wish You Were Here such a compelling look at the pervasive impact of political strife on a community."
Stage and Cinema
- Highly Recommended
"...Director Azar Kazemi is in full control of this production, skillfully managing the shifts from humor to pathos and back and she extracts uniformly terrific performances from her fantastic cast. The five actors play off each other beautifully - a few minutes into the show, their alliances, personalities, and the pecking order in their relationships are beautifully established. With no disrespect to the other three performers - really, all five are perfect - I must single out two performances; one because it's the heart of the show and the other because it surprised me."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...Remy Bumppo is starting its 30th season of bringing audiences great plays from the past and today's relevant new works. To start this year, they are offering the Chicago Premiere of "Wish You Were Here" written by Sanaz Toossi ( Best known for her "English"). This is a story that involves the protests in Iran back in the late 70's, and in this 100 minute ( no intermission) play ,we see how what is happening effects the lives of a group of tight knit ladies."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Recommended
"...Azar Kazemi's excellent production of Sanaz Toossi's WISH YOU WERE HERE provides a thrilling and thought-provoking evening of theatre, laced with a lot of adult humor. This blunt, bold and often brazen one-act offers a whole lot of comedy, as well as plenty of heartbreak and unhappiness. The play is an honest portrayal of the closeness, harmony and discord that often takes place between the best of buddies. But in the end it's usually all worth while, because You gotta have friends."
The Fourth Walsh
- Recommended
"...It's 1978. Protests are escalating in Iran. Revolutionists are overthrowing the Pahlavi Dynasty. The reign of Ayatollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader is fast-approaching. Meanwhile in the Iranian suburbs, five friends have gathered to celebrate Salme's wedding. They tease and pluck as they prepare her for the ceremony and bridal night. Although they gossip, primp and dance happily inside the house, their lives are drastically changing by actions outside the house."
Allie and the After Party
- Recommended
"...Five Iranian women meet and gather throughout the years and show us a glimpse into their friendship and how it changes. Wish You Were Here is a heartfelt play that shows the impacts larger situations have on a personal level."
