English / Wish You Were Here: Two Plays

by Sanaz Toossi

Winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for   English
Obie Award for Best New American   English
Two breakout plays by an Iranian-American playwright that examine the human costs of migration, both for those who leave their home country and for those who stay.

Sanaz Toossi’s  English  is a comic and empathetic play about a group of Iranian students taking an English language class in the hopes of passing the challenging TOEFL exam. Navigating word games and listening exercises, the students make every effort to become fluent enough to migrate abroad in order to pursue their disparate goals—one hopes to reunite with her Canadian son, another wishes to pursue medical school in Australia. All feel a tension between their Iranian homeland and their hoped-for future. In  Wish You Were Here,  the focus shifts to a close-knit group of women who initially decide to remain in Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. However, priorities shift as their fluctuating friendships begin to mirror the quickly changing political realities of the country. Taken together, these two plays provide a deeply humanizing portrait of the complex effects of diaspora both within and outside of Iran.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, Womens, Iran

240 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Behzad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you ever think about who you would be if you never had to think about staying or leaving?

نمایشنامۀ «انگلیسی» که جایزۀ پولیتزر برده بیشتر حالت مینیمال داره و تجربیه، و خب فکر میکنم نمایشنامۀ فشرده تر و عمیق تریه.
اما نمایشنامۀ دوم یعنی «ای کاش اینجا بودی» طولانی تر، گسترده تر و به قول رضا دانشور فقید «درازنفس تر» هست، البته اینجا هم نویسنده اون حالت مینیمال و عکس-طور خودش رو حفظ کرده و اصولاً نقطۀ قوتشه. منتها اینجا دیگه شخصیت ها و زندگی ها گسترده تر هستن، و انگار تاریخ ایران بعد از انقلاب تا امروز به سرعت مرور میشه، البته یکسره از دیدگاهی زنانه، که خب همین هم جالب و جذابش میکنه؛ مخصوصاً که این بخث رو آدم داره که بدون سانسور بخوندشون.

هر دو نمایشنامه برای ما ایرانی ها احتمالاً سرشار از تداعی های غم انگیز و خاطره انگیز و پر حسرت و پر درده. اصولاً مگه میشه صحبت مهاجرت بشه و ما ایرانی ها پامون گیر نباشه؟ این مهاجرت هم نجاته، هم نوعی گم شدن. نجات یافتن از یه جور جهنم و پناه بردن به چیزی که شبیه بهشت به نظر میرسه، اما در عمل، در لحظه، لزوماً بهشت نیست؛ لااقل برای کسی که مال اون دنیا نیست شاید بهشت نباشه.

میگن خونه جائیه که قلبت اونجاست. وقتی ما توی این خاک ریشه دووندیم، شاید هر جابه جایی ای برامون مثل این باشه که تنۀ درخت مون رو از وسط با اره برقی نصف کنن. تنه و ریشه مون بمونه و شاخه ها و برگ ها و میوه هامون برن تو یه محیط دیگه.

و آها، برای این خوندمش که جایزۀ «پولیتزر» رو برده و میخواستم ببینم که به حق داده شده بهش یا نه. که میبینم آره، واقعاً حقش بود پولیتزر.

[Emma]

I do not have words for how incredible both of these plays are, and I'm saying that having just read the script alone. Thank you again to Joe for lending me his book many months ago, I gratefully now will return this!

[Yegane · Rating 5 out of 5]

انگلیسی

یه روز رندم تو پاییز امسال، تئاتر انگلیسی با کارگردانی سعید روستایی رو دیدم، تئاتر که تموم شد، با اطمینان زیادی بهش ۹/۱۰ دادم و فکر میکردم چقدر نمایش‌نا‌مه‌اش با دقت و ذکاوت نوشته شده و طبعا بعد از تئاتر و سرچ کردن اسمش، خیلی عجیب بود واسم که چنین نمایش‌نامه‌ای پولیتزر برده بود و من قبل از اینکه سرچ کنم نمی‌دونستم.

نمایشنامه‌ای که درسته به انگلیسی نوشته شده، اما نویسنده‌ی ایرانی درباره‌ی دغدغه‌ی اغلب ما نوشته؛ زبان.
همه سرکلاس انگلیسی قرار می‌گیریم که معلم اصرار داره حتما انگلیسی حرف بزنیم (سناریویی که غیرممکنه تجربه نکرده باشیم) و دانش‌آموزای کلاس هر کدوم شبیه یه گروه از ما هستن که طبعاً با توجه به تمام ویژگی‌هایی که داریم، احتمالا نقش یکی از شاگردا رو بپذیریم و تعامل بین شاگردای کلاس با هم و با معلم قطعا نقطه‌ی قوت اصلی نمایشنامه بود.

کاش اینجا بودی


کاش اینجا بودی خواننده رو تو فضایی قرار میده که احتمالا اغلبمون درکی ازش نداریم، چه به لحاظ زمانی و احتمالا حتی بتونم بگم گروه آدم‌هایی که درباره‌شون می‌خونیم.
تعامل خیلی نزدیک به واقعیتِ چند زن تو کرج بین سال‌های پنجاه و شش تا هفتاد شمسی رو می‌خونیم؛ با شوخی‌هایی و بحث‌ها و حرف‌هایی که خارج از جمع نه روی کاغذ میان و نه خیلی درموردشون حرف می‌زنیم و در نهایت سرنوشت مسیر هر کدوم رو به کجا می‌بره، میون اون سال‌های پر فراز و نشیب و تغییرات شدید فرهنگی و...

پی‌نوشت‌ اول: به طبع تو ترجمه موارد خیلی زیادی دستخوش تغییر شده بود، اما مترجم تونسته بود تا حد امکان کمترین حذف رو داشته باشه و جوری ترجمه کنه که رد پای سانسور رو متوجه بشیم؛ که این خیلی ارزشمنده!
اما خوندن نسخه‌ی اصلی حس جمع رو بهتر منتقل می‌کنه، با وجود فارسی نبودن.

پی‌نوشت دوم: کتاب رو تو گودریدز سرچ کردم و نمیتونم بگم چقدر تعجب کردم از اینکه تو گودریدز ادد نشده بود و چرا اینقدر مهجوره؟ نسبت به اینکه پولیتزر برده و نمایشنامه‌ش بی‌نظیره.

پی‌نوشت سوم: نسخه‌ی صوتی کتاب، اجرای خیلی با کیفیت و جذابی داره که شدیداً توصیه میکنم بشنوید.

پی‌نوشت آخر: یادم نمیاد آخرین کتابی که باهاش اشک ریختم چی بوده اما کاش اینجا بودی، تموم شد و من بعد از تماس رعنا، اشک ریختم.

[Gena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edition is two plays in one. They both deserve their own review, so this is a lot 😊

I enjoyed reading "English" immensely. Touching on topics of identity, home, family, and hegemony, it amazingly captures the heart and mind of an English as a foreign (and to a certain extent second) language classroom. I have known so many students whose experiences are represented in the class in this story. But as much as I enjoyed reading it, seeing it brought to life by Iranian-American actors on Broadway moved me even more than I could have imagined. I was laughing out loud and tearing up at intervals throughout the entirety. If you teach English as an additional language, you'll definitely want to read (or see!) this play. But it was also the winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama (Hamilton and Rent have also won this award), so it can speak to and be enjoyed by everyone. If you've never considered facets of linguistic identity and hegemony, it will (or should) especially be thought-provoking.

Wish You Were Here is an incredibly moving story about womanhood, friendships, and the impact of glocal events. It's hard to say I enjoyed this play, as it was so sad, almost heartbreaking, but that's also a testimony to Toossi's ability to create such compelling, dynamic characters embroiled in real life experiences of love, misunderstanding, friendships, turmoil, and loss over the years. But not only these experiences and losses as a natural course of events as we get older, but also brought about by changing political climate. If you're not familiar with the history of Iran, many of these outside events may slip right by you. The story will still be beautiful, but understanding the forces outside the door behind which we see these women makes for a darkly beautiful, heartbreaking, read.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished this 30 minutes ago and my heartbeat is still ringing in my ears.

[Sagittarius Superstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not very good at reading plays, I’d love to see this on stage!

[Soraia Afshar · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading a play since high school so I wasn't expecting to enjoy this much. Both were so beautifully written and captivating.

[wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two really smart plays about Iranian people who struggle to find their place in a changing world. English involves a group of immigrants trying to learn English to fit in their new nation. It is entertaining and garnered her the Pulitzer Prize. Wish You Were Here looks at the lives of a group of girl friends as they evolve, change and struggle over the years. As the time passes the group shrinks down to two through weddings, children and changes of locations. A very realistic portrayal.

[Lida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and emotional. I got through this in one sitting and was impressed with each story. As the child of Iranian immigrants, these plays made me just want to hug my mom and grandma. Anyone who feels a little different, lost, or stuck can relate to these characters and know exactly what’s happening to them internally. Hope to pick up more of Toossi’s work in the future.

[Michael Goodine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"English" is exceptional and deserving of the praise (and awards) it has received. It is an excellent exploration of language and how being understood (or not) can impact out well-being. It is also quite funny at times.

[ashley elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

in all honesty i only read english, but i’m looking forward to reading this other play because english was so good! it was hysterical & heartbreaking all at once. cannot wait to see this performed.

[Arya Shahi]

“How long can you live in isolation from yourself?”

English is, simply, a beautiful play.

[Anna Kefalas · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ACTUALLY 3.75!

From ENGLISH: “MARJAN: Why do we learn language?
GOLI: Um. To say if we are hungry.
MARJAN: Yes! To speak our needs. Why else?
(Beat.)
OMID: To bring the inside to the outside.
MARJAN: Yes. To speak not only our needs but our wants. To speak our souls. To speak. And to… (Motions at her ear) listen. To the insides of others. We’re just having a conversation. You speak. You listen. This is just life!”

From WISH YOU WERE HERE: “ZARI: Are you on your period?
SHIDEH: Why? Because I have an opinion?”

what a triumphant return to reading plays! toossi writes the ensemble-driven plays that i can only dream of (and do very much aspire to). and the characters, my god i could HEAR their voices in my head. truly such a gem. definitely understanding why she got that pulitzer.

[paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews but this book deserved one.
Finished it in one sitting.
As an immigrant myself I found these plays to be the embodiment of the experience. Of leaving your home, leaving your country, changing names and being a woman.
The struggles some of these characters (in both plays) have are deep even if they are not explained throughly. Their pain is relatable, I cried a couple of times because I could see myself in their position.
Comedy was also present, it lighten the mood in certain moments where the context was darker which I really appreciated.
I would 100% recommend reading this, and I’m sure I will pick it up again in the near future.

[Ariel Cipolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I could never leave. I love being from somewhere beautiful.”

A very rare 5/5 from me. I think as an immigrant who often longs and misses his home country, both of these plays capture something personal for me that I can’t fully explain. I would argue English is perhaps a perfect play but Wish You Were Here left me sobbing by the end. There is such care and tenderness in both of these pieces that remind simple and grounded while being able to be deeply profound. Toossi has the ability to make you fall in love with every single one of her character and allow them the space to be and express themselves fully.

[Samantha Copé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two plays about Iranians and the impact of the outside world on their community—one an English class, the other a tight-knit group of friends after the cultural revolution and during the Iran-Iraq war. We don’t learn much about the historical context of the second play, because the importance is the shifting friendships and the impact of migration on relationships and what it means to be Iranian. English takes place in more modern times but has the same theme of the impact of migration but in particular on language and belonging. Both were beautiful and melancholy. I had the privilege of seeing English performed and would love to revisit Wish you Were Here in a theater.

[Yasmin M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think as this book was written for people other than Iranians, I had difficulty with some parts of it. The first play with the English class was better than the second one with the women.

Now, I never had any close (or any) friends growing up, and neither did my mom. Therefore I am not sure if the dynamics among women were true or not. But they didn’t feel Persian. They felt very millennial American.


Altogether, a great work.

[Thomas Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two small but emotionally deep plays. The former is set in an English class for Iranians looking to emigrate, and the conflicts between English, Farsi, and the different cultures wrapped up in each language. The latter follows five women in the wake of the Iranian Revolution as they bond, gossip, fight, and plan for milestones in their lives. I found both of them to be really good, and would definitely see them on stage.

[Gregory Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deceptively affecting. Toossi, in general, controls with a light touch. maybe there is less control in her structures but the characters often evade archetype with gusto. Playful, moving, witty, and beautiful in their sparseness.

[Claire Waldrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

two very phenomenal plays. deeply funny, witty, and poignant. wish you were here brought me to tears many, many times. toossi understands absence in a way that i don’t think i’ve seen a playwright understand it before.

[P.V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard so much about English, so I was very curious. Having read both plays, they are each powerful, funny, meditative, questioning, moving, in their own ways.

But if it had been up to me, Wish You Were Here would've won a Pulitzer.

I look forward to reading more of this writer's work.

[Jackie27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story about friendship we all need to hear. Would love to see this performed.

[E Carius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll lend it to you, if you want to

[arden · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She's a rotten-egg bitch with a rotten-egg pussy. And that's that.”

[grace fleming de torres]

so so beautiful

[Nena Trif]

I normally don’t read a ton of plays, but I enjoyed these two a lot.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish You Were Here is quite good, but English is phenomenal. An excellent collection.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

English - 3.5
Wish You Were Here - 4

[donya · Rating 5 out of 5]

representation DOES matter

[Herbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

English 5/5
Wish You Were Here 3/5