*** Recommended Remy Bumppo’s latest production, Wish You Were Here, is a series of vignettes about four female friends in Iran. Although the acting was outstanding, I was a little underwhelmed. I thought the vignettes, while interesting and even at times poignant, were rather superficial. I think maybe the play was about how hard it is to keep friendships going when times are tough, but maybe not. Maybe I missed the point playwright Sanaz Toossi was trying to make. 3 Spotlights
The story opens in 1978 as five friends, Nazanin (Shadee Vossoughi), Salme (Gloria Imseih Petrelli), Zari (Yourtana Sulaiman), Shideh (Tina Arfaee) and Rana (Joan Nahid), are getting ready for a wedding. Anyone who’s ever been a bridesmaid is probably familiar with the routine – hair, makeup, mimosas, raunchy jokes, gossip and a lot of laughter. There is an undertone of uncertainty about what will happen on the wedding night.
A year later, there’s another wedding but Rana and her whole family, who are Jewish, have disappeared without a trace. The remaining four are again doing hair and makeup while trading jokes and gossip. This bride isn’t particularly happy about getting married, but she doesn’t seem to have a choice.
Another year, another wedding, but only three friends. The mood is somber rather than carefree since they found out that the first bride – I think she was Salme – drowned. Someone told them that she was swimming while wearing her chador. The weight of the garment dragged her down.
As the years pass, news of their world filters in. One year they talk about the Shah leaving. Another year, the universities closed due to all the unrest and even if/when they reopen, it doesn’t look like women will be allowed to attend. Another year, one friend with a scarf covering her hair, arrives at her friend’s home. It’s wartime and conditions are difficult. The power is out, the water too, but they’ve decided to ride it out together.
One of the friends has a baby, the others have emigrated.
By the way, kudos to Costume Designer Kristy Leigh Hall who found three gorgeous wedding dresses as well as a variety of dressy dresses for the friends.
Remy Bumppo’s Wish You Were Here runs through October 19th at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Parking is available in Theater Wit’s parking lot across the street for $10 (pay at the Box Office). Running time is 100 minutes, no intermission. Performances: Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 & 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm. Tickets $15-$55. FYI RemyBumppo.org.