Spring Break
Heidi Holland grows up
Diana Calderon
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Culture
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This play chronicles the life of Heidi Holland (Ashlee LaPine) from 1965 through 1985. Heidi is an art curator and educator of women in Art History.
The opening scene is in a New York lecture hall in 1989 where Heidi discusses art with her students. The next several scenes flashback to a time in Heidi's life where she meets people that will help her define her true self.
Scoop Rosenbaum (Todd Carlton Lanker) is Heidi's first love. Susan Johnston (Rachel Hirshorn) is one of Heidi's closest girlfriends. Peter Patron (TJ Chasteen) is Heidi's best friend.
Heidi's loyalty as a friend was challenged when Patron revealed he is gay. Heidi demonstrated her understanding nature by remaining Patron's friend throughout her life. In the end, Heidi developed her own potential as a strong female and a mother.
LaPine's acting was believable, however, the other actors at times overshadowed LaPine's performance.
Chasteen was phenomenal as he kept the momentum of the play with his eccentric and extraverted acting skills.
In addition, Fran (Julane Havens), an outspoken lesbian character, performed with great authority. Heidi met Fran in a women's group in 1970. Fran was a favorite with the audience, as they chuckled when she exclaimed, "You either shave your legs or you don't!"
Towards the end of the play, Heidi was a fully developed, self-realized character. All the supporting actors, such as Anthony Vaughn Merchant, who played a hippie and a waiter added much interest and dimension to the play.
The stage props were a little distracting, with overuse and lack of variety. The same end table used in the television scene in which Heidi, Scoop and Peter were being interviewed was also used in Heidi's apartment at the end of the play.
The costumes appeared accurate and reflected the time periods perfectly. The actresses wore the typical flashy colored clothing and gratuitously large earrings and accessories to suit the scene that took place during the 1980's.
Costume designer Larissa McConnell said the design for the show was a "Collaborative effort throughout the entire design process, starting with the director" and that it took, "a lot of research".
Hank Dire, 15, audience member from Lee's Summit said, "Yeah, I thought [the play] was funny. I liked the first part with the dance."
Steven Skelton, 16, from Lee's Summit, thought the play was, "Pretty good" and added, "The end I didn't think would end that way."
dcalderon@unews.com
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