the heidi chronicles

tuesday was a drizzly, but relatively warm day.

after quick work drinks at 44, the royalton hotel bar a couple blocks at my office, i rushed over to danji for dinner with daisy, who had arrived early to secure seats from the potential broadway rush crowd. as i arrived 15 minutes late to dinner, we were a little tight on time and had to push the pace a bit. the food was, as we both remembered, very flavorful and tasty. danji's dishes are tapas style, however, so you're not left feeling overly full afterwards. we had the hamachi sashimi, bulgogi beef sliders, lightly fried tofu with ginger scallion dressing, and bossam (braised pork belly) - it was all delicious! their cocktails are pretty good too, though dais was getting over the flu and my pinot grigio from the royalton was quite enough for the night.

we arrived at the music box theatre, where i'd previously seen one man, two guvnors starring james corden, just minutes before the play began and were sitting at the edge of our seats for the next three hours. we were watching the heidi chronicles, starring elizabeth moss, jason biggs, and bryce pinkham, during its previews before its march 19th opening night.

more and more these days, i enjoy watching a play or film without knowing too much about the plot, and tonight was no different. 

the heidi chronicles is a well-scripted, witty zeitgeist-play about the changing role of women in the 60s-80s chronicled through the life of  baby boomer, heidi holland. elizabeth moss did an excellent job portraying a young woman seeking a career through her passion, art history, and dealing with society's expectations for the role of a woman (and a number of other important themes, including homosexuality) during the 3 hour play. my second favorite character was peter patron, played by bryce pinkham, who is heidi's best friend over the twenty year period. he emits brightness, solidarity, and a lightness which is much needed in the life of heidi holland.

during the play, there are numerous vignettes with set changes, which are seamlessly integrated with a rotating set design. the dialogue is peppered with historical references and intelligent allusions which really set the scene for each period of heidi's life. 

it was a light-hearted and interesting night for a couple city girls. for anyone looking for a little direction, some affirmation, or just some interesting food for thought, i would highly recommend this play.