Sanaz Toossi’s play *Wish You Were Here* explores the emotional displacement of five Iranian women over the course of a decade, beginning in 1978. The production, which earned the 2022 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, examines how political upheaval in Tehran forces friends to navigate life as expatriates while grappling with the persistent pull of their homeland.
The Narrative Arc of Wish You Were Here
The play follows a group of friends—Zari, Shideh, Rana, Nazanin, and Salme—as they transition from young women in Tehran to disparate lives across the globe. According to the [Playwrights Horizons production archives](https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/plays/plays/wish-you-were-here/), the story spans the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the subsequent Iran-Iraq War.
Toossi focuses on the quiet, internal shifts of her characters rather than the macro-political headlines of the era. As the women scatter to cities like London and Los Angeles, the narrative centers on the “what-ifs” of their abandoned lives. The title serves as a double entendre, referring both to the traditional postcard sentiment and the profound, aching absence of friends left behind in a changing country.
Critical Reception and Thematic Impact
Critics have noted the play’s unique ability to handle the gravity of displacement with humor and intimacy. *The New York Times* described the work as a “tender, devastating comedy,” highlighting Toossi’s ear for naturalistic dialogue that captures the specific cadence of female friendship.
The play’s success lies in its refusal to offer easy answers about assimilation. While some characters thrive in their new environments, others remain perpetually suspended in the past. This contrast provides the emotional stakes of the drama:
* Zari: The anchor who remains in Tehran, representing the life the others left behind.
* The Expatriates: Each character faces a different struggle, from the guilt of survival to the frustration of cultural erasure in Western societies.
Historical Context and Real-World Precedents
The events depicted in *Wish You Were Here* mirror the real-world experiences of the Iranian diaspora following the 1979 revolution. According to the [Migration Policy Institute](https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/iranian-diaspora-united-states), the Iranian-American population grew significantly in the wake of the revolution, with many individuals settling in hubs like Southern California.
Toossi’s script draws on this history to illustrate how personal identity is often fractured by geopolitical forces. By focusing on a ten-year timeline, the play demonstrates how time acts as an additional character, widening the chasm between the women’s shared youth and their divergent futures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central conflict of the play?
The conflict is the physical and emotional separation caused by the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which forces a group of close friends to choose between staying in their homeland or seeking refuge abroad.
Is the play based on a true story?
While not a direct biography of the playwright, *Wish You Were Here* is informed by the collective history of the Iranian diaspora and the personal experiences of those who witnessed the revolution firsthand.
Where has the play been performed?
The play premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in 2022 and has since seen various regional productions, continuing to receive recognition for its exploration of identity and migration.