A GENERATION LATER

I am an avid and frequent theatergoer and supporter, and I have tickets for this coming weekend to see "Vanities, A New Musical," part of my subscription to Second Stage in New York. It is a musical version of a long-running play off-Broadway. The publicity says it "spans the turbulent '60s through the late '80s and explores how important friends are as one faces life's defining moments." It follows three women over a 30 year period.

In an interview, the book writer (and playwright of the original play, Jack Heifner) and the songwriter, both men (the director is a woman) were asked if the problems the women faced would resonate with our world. David Kirshenbaum, who wrote the music and lyrics, said," We're living once again in a time of incremental but incredible revolution - politically, technically, economically, culturally - and even though the battles being waged are different, one hopes from those that were fought in the ''60s and '70s, on a certain level I think social changes are ultimately going to be just as seismic."

Do you agree? With change accelerating geometrically, especially from a technological standpoint, will the changes be even greater?

I am eager to see if I think that had the characters been texting and tweeting instead of communicating in person those bonds of friendship would be as strong. 

In any case, studies continue to be released confirming that people with a solid base of social relationships are the happiest and most able to withstand hardships. Or is it that the happiest people attract the most valuable friendships?

Phyllis Weiss Haserot     www.pdcounsel.com