[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of The Group Rep’s production of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, written by Wendy Wasserstein, directed by Brent Beerman, and produced by Melissa Strauss.
I admit that I had not seen THE HEIDI CHRONICLES before. I had heard of it, any frequent and obsessive theatre goer has. But I had never had the opportunity to see it staged. The Group Rep, in their seemingly endless parade of brilliant American classics, has taken it on, and wow, it seems that for me it was worth the wait.
The story follows Heidi from freshman college student through to middle age. Her time is the 60s, 70s and 80s. And what three decades in this country encompassed more change than those?
We skip forward years at a time, and though Heidi might seem to be the quiet beauty, she has a quality that demands our attention. She is us. Exploring, finding out who she is and what she can really do. An art historian is not exactly something that you might consider to be important or valuable, even. But considering how almost every painting by almost any artist was probably the most important thing in their lives at the time they were painting it, the value of art is surely in the effort. Someone took a brush and some paint and turned a canvas into a universe. A few brush strokes and we are in a storming ocean, or a flowering meadow, or a deep blue starry night. Magical how our minds can see exactly what the artists reveal to us.
Heidi’s particular interest is female painters of the sixteenth century, and as the play unfolds and her life does also, she becomes an expert in her field. A professor, a historian and a woman not afraid to be alone. She does have loves. One a deep long friendship with a man who reveals he is gay just when she is considering a relationship with him, and another, a man who swept her off her feet in college and never committed to anything but to love her. As the years roll by and the styles and the world change, Heidi, it seems, is the center and the constant. Brave, interesting, gentle and deeply honest, she yearns for something else for herself. Her wonderful group of female friends give her meaning and lifelong support, but in the end, it is only her own path that will ever be enough.
THE HEIDI CHRONICLES is simple and truthful and such a magical, important and astonishingly relevant piece of theatre. The characters are intense and yet they really could be any one of us. The writing is profoundly clever, often hilarious and always surprising.
There’s nothing flash or contrived about Heidi and her life and yet I found the play to be absolutely riveting. How can a story about 20 or so years of one woman’s life through these particular decades become as iconic as THE HEIDI CHRONICLES has? I’m not sure I understand it myself. But, I think, as usual, it must all be in the writing. And, in this particular case at least, in the performances.
What a brilliant cast GRT has pulled together. Each role filled to perfection. Each actor balances the lightness of the story and the intense connections they have to each other.
THE HEIDI CHRONICLES is an absolute delight and I was absolutely blown away by this beautifully balanced life story of a woman who is deeply human above everything else. The Group Rep has yet again gifted us a brilliant version of a truly iconic American play. The cast is superb, the message of true independence and hope utterly timely. Bravo!!!
Tickets:
https://thegrouprep.com/show/the-heidi-chronicles
When:
July 25 – August 31
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm.
After the matinee Talkbacks with the cast and staff are Sundays, July 27 and August 3.
Where:
The Group Rep Theatre
10900 Burbank Blvd, NoHo Arts District, CA 91601
The Cast
The Group Rep cast in alphabetical order features the talents of Kathi Chaplar (Debbie, Jill, Lisa), Amy Earhart (Heidi), Amy Goldring (April, Betsy, Becky), Hudson Long (Peter), Michelle McGregor (Molly, Fran, Clara, Denise), Maxwell Oliver (Chris, Mark, TV Attendant, Waiter, Ray), Alex Scyocurka (Scoop), and Amy Shaughnessy (Susan).
The Team
The creative staff includes Brent Beerman (Director/Properties Design), Melissa Strauss (Producer), Kathi Chaplar (Set Design), Robbie Miles (Lighting Design), Shon LeBlanc (Costume Design), Krys Fehervari (Wig Design), John Harvey (Sound Design), Chris Winfield (Set Construction Forman), Molly Wolflick (Assistant Director & Stage Manager), Doug Haverty (Graphic Design), Doug Engalla (Promotional Video/Photography), Patrick Skelton (Artistic Council Liaison), Denise Downer (Marketing), Kristin Stancato (Webmaster & Online Marketing), Jackie Shearn (Social Media) and Nora Feldman (PR).
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