‘Constitution’ play at Theatre Nova more important and relevant than ever
By Fran Potasnik
ANN ARBOR, MI–One of the difficulties involved with writing a play review is knowing how much of the script to reveal to the readers. After all, I don’t want to give the whole game away ; just enough to entice people to go see the show. So I am writing with this in mind as I discuss “What the Constitution Means to Me”, playing at Theatre Nova now through November 12. Written by Heidi Schreck, this play was performed as part of Summerworks in 2017. It then played Off-Broadway and on the West Coast. The characters in the cast are listed as Heidi, Legionnaire, and Debater. We learn early on that the full name of the character Heidi is Heidi Schreck herself. Even better, Heidi Schreck the playwright has played the part of Heidi Schreck in past performances in other cities.
So, naturally I wondered if the events in the play were a true recounting of Heidi’s actual life. She has, in the past, affirmed that this is the case. It is said that writers often write about things and events which they are most familiar with. (Of course this may or may not be the case with the particular book or play one may be reading at the moment, but I for one do tend to suspect that written experiences may be autobiographical.) For me , this enhances the appreciation of the story.
Knowing that the US Constitution would be the main topic of the play, I dusted off my own copy and attempted to review it before attending. A painful exercise, as one might expect. But it was after seeing the play that I developed some enthusiasm for interpreting this document, and so I read it again with a new interest. I overheard audience members expressing the thought that this would be a great play for students. This is true. But many of us who are long past school age must admit that we really don’t know much about this document.
It seemed to be the Covid-19 pandemic that made many people feel free to spout off phrases such as, “Nobody can tell me that I have to wear a mask to see this play, or shop in this store, or attend this school. It’s against my Constitutional rights!” (My Dad used to use this phrase : “If I had a nickel for everytime I heard someone say…”) My snarky remark to the person saying this phrase was, “So exactly where are masks, or vaccines, or whatever, mentioned in the Constitution, anyway?” I usually said it when in an argumentative mood, but it’s a good point, isn’t it? How many of us have ever read the constitution in depth, or the Federalist Papers that explain why it reads the way it does.
By seeing this production, I hope that many audience members, young and old, will walk away from the theatre with a bit more understanding of this aspect of American history, but I also believe that they will enjoy the play as a theatrical experience. How can one not become instantly engrossed in the engaging and enthusiastic delivery of the lines by actress Emily Wilson-Tobin, who plays Heidi? David Galido plays the Legionnaire, a role with its own challenge of being on stage constantly without many lines or actions for a large portion of the play. He did this very well, as strange as that may seem to say. Later on, he was given the opportunity to spring into action, and a more spontaneous and appealing performance could not be imagined. He and Heidi were just so…for lack of a better word, so likable!
Skye Solea played the role of the Debater. At the end of the play, Emily and Skye, as themselves, demonstrate an actual debate scenario. This is very timely, as in light of recent events these past few years, much discussion has ensued regarding the validity of the Constitution in today’s world. Why should we follow this document written in another time, by a bunch of white men endorsing or at least tolerating slavery? “The dead should not rule the living” was a thought-provoking quote from the play.
Why do we have this document when there are famous court cases from the past where the verdict appears to directly contradict articles in the Constitution? Very valid points and examples were provided during the performance.