Reviewed by Julyza Commodore
The Group Rep at The Group Rep Theatre
Thru August 31.
RECOMMENDED
Written by Wendy Wasserstein in 1988, The Heidi Chronicles covers the span of 24 years from 1969 to 1989. It is clearly a great deal of Heidi Holland’s (Amy Earhart) life being shown as we see her go from a teenager to a woman in her 30s, while living in or visiting Chicago, New Hampshire, New York and Michigan. Over the course of time, she pays close attention to society, her role in it as a young woman, and what she feels needs to be changed. (There’s even a protest about women being in art that she spearheads).
While dealing with such pertinent social/gender issues, Heidi’s desire for connection and love never wanes — from her love affair with a fickle man named Scoop (Alex Scyocurka) to her friendship with gay pediatrician Peter (Hudson Long), and her friendships with her girlfriends (Amy Shaughnessy, Amy Goldring, Michelle McGregor and Kathi Chaplar), it is a clear depiction of how important various experiences with others are able to shape a person, their view of the world and to have an overall impact on their lives over time.
Director Brent Beerman excels in depicting the strong relationships among the characters: One really feels their shared, lived experiences together. Add to that Beerman’s support for Wasserstein’s focus not only on monumental events, but also the mundane yet significant incidents that occur in Heidi’s life as she forges her identity over time.
The true-to-period costume design by Shon LeBlanc is, well, seamlessly executed, and Kathi Chaplar’s scenic design is similarly effective, creating a world for the actors with simplicity and creativity. This production blends honesty with entertainment as it chronicles one woman’s life.
The Group Rep at The Group Rep Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM through August 31st. https://thegrouprep.com/show/the-heidi-chronicles/ Runtime: 2 hours & 35 minutes
