I went to see the show with a friend who is also a NYC mother, and we both really enjoyed it. Neither of us are fashionistas—I'm usually in playground gear with spit up on my shoulder—but we still related to many of the tales told by the five actresses sitting onstage. We laughed when they talked about the Madonna looks they copied, the difficulty of finding the perfect purse and the embarrassment of shopping for a first bra. However, there were also many serious moments: one character recalled the boots she was wearing the night she was raped; another shared the pain of seeing her deceased mother's favorite bathrobe.

Sisters Nora and Delia Ephron penned the collection of stories, which are are based on the book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman. There's no set or fancy costumes. The five performers wear basic black and sit on stools, and the only prop is an easel, which displays drawings of some of the clothes discussed.

Unlike most shows, Love, Loss, and What I Wore doesn't have a set cast. Instead, it features a constantly changing roster of performers, some quite famous (Rosie O'Donnell and Tyne Daly were original cast members), who read from notebooks. The current lineup includes Janel Moloney from The West Wing, Joyce Van Patten (Dick's younger sister) and Ashley Austin Morris from the new Electric Company. Even if you don't know their names, you'll probably recognize their faces.

Another cool thing about the play is it's one of a handful of shows that are offering affordable childcare at select performances. Playtime! initially launched last season at the Off Broadway theater Playwrights Horizons. (We wrote about it in a date night post earlier this year.) Now the program has been extended to other shows, including Love, Loss, and What I Wore. While you watch the performance, your kids can enjoy music, movement and art projects led by Sitters Studio's Artisitters at Playwrights Horizons, which is just a block away. It's $15 per kid, but you can sign up for one free session on the Playtime! website. You can also see a list of performances when the service is available. I haven't tried the program yet, but it sounds like a great deal.

What I enjoyed most about Love, Loss, and What I Wore is the memories it sparked for me, like my fashion experiences with my mom. I recalled shopping for prom dresses, arguing over what to wear to church, and the matching jumpers she sewed for me and my favorite doll. Now that I have a baby daughter of my own, it made me wonder how those scenes will play out for us.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore reminded me that whatever life brings, we're not alone. You may want to have dinner after the show instead of before, so you and your friends can talk about the supporting role fashion has played in your own personal dramas and comedies. My girlfriend and I chatted for hours.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore is playing at the Westside Theatre at 407 West 43rd Street near Ninth Avenue. Tickets are $79, but you can get them for $45 by using a discount code at Broadwaybox.com.


Photo by Carol Rosegg