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I do think feminist plays could be a powerful alternative to the novel in terms of pushing us to think harder about what feminism is and should be. I'm not sure what exactly that feminism drama would look like or be-though I do think there's something to be said about both plays this week leaving us feeling sad.

What I really wanted to talk about though, is Heidi's role in "The Heidi Chronicles" (brilliant title, which I think I may appropriate for myself). I think it's fitting that she ends up "alone" (though with a child) because she is the individual in the play. She can't quite fit into the "sisterhood" of feminism because they won't let her be who she wants to be and she certainly can't fit in with the "good 'ole boys" who can't or won't understand her as an individual. To me, I read Heidi as a sort of prohet for the next wave of feminism, a woman looking forward to the future because it's only gotta get better from here, right? The ending of the play, with Heidi moving into an empty space, away from all the other people of her life in order to better write is a literal rendition of Virginia Woolf's call for "a room of one's own."

For me, one major difference between reading a play and a novel is that I'm forced to try and visualize the play a lot more. In this way, the ending of "The Heidi Chronicles" was more powerful to me because I could literally envision Heidi sweeping into this gorgeous, empty and silent room with sunlight flooding in-the most serene-looking place ever and I literally felt happy for her. I also literally cringed when Scoop came waltzing in, completely disturbing the quiet and peacefulness of the space.