⭐☆☆☆☆

Unfortunately, NOSTOS was not for me.

The biggest issue was that I never felt there was a compelling plot (or any plot at all) to carry the audience through the performance. Instead, the production came across primarily as a vehicle for expressing the playwright's views on Iran's Islamic government. Regardless of where audience members stand on the issues, I found the show felt more like an extended lecture than a dramatic work, and I struggled to stay engaged.

I also found parts of the dialogue unnecessarily coarse and vulgar, which further detracted from the experience for me.

There were, however, a few elements I genuinely appreciated. The use of the shoes as props was striking and memorable. I interpreted them as representing the many lives lost under the Iranian regime, and they created one of the production's strongest visual images.

The other standout was the pair of dog characters. They brought much-needed life and originality to the show, and the performer portraying the male dog gave an especially remarkable performance. Their physicality and character work were exceptional and, for me, the highlight of the production.

Overall, though, I found NOSTOS disappointing. I was hoping for a compelling theatrical story but instead experienced a production that I felt prioritized its message over dramatic storytelling. Other people may connect with it more than I did, but it simply wasn't a show I enjoyed.