The Heidi Chronicles | Essays and Criticism

  • Gender Power Structure in The Heidi Chronicles

    In this essay, Petrusso discusses the weakness of the female characters and the dominant role of the male characters in Wasserstein’s play; this unbalanced power structure is reflective of traditional views of male/female roles in society.

  • Prize Problems

    In this mixed review of The Heidi Chronicles, Weales praises the performances but complains that the play ‘‘has no dramatic center’’ in its title character. He criticizes Wasserstein for providing a protagonist who is little more than a foil for the supporting characters.

  • Review of Play's Broadway Debut

    In this review of The Heidi Chronicles’s Broadway debut, Simon finds that the play is more effective than it had been in its previous, Off-Broadway setting. While he still has complaints about certain aspects of the plot—notably the title character’s unconvincing career—he finds the production to have considerable merit.

  • Portrait of a Lady

    Characterizing The Heidi Chronicles as Wasserstein’s ‘‘best work to date,’’ Kramer offers a positive review of the play’s Off-Broadway debut. Praising the playwright for avoiding moralizing in her work, the critic assesses that ‘‘Wasserstein’s portrait of womanhood always remains complex.’’