"What the Constitution Means to Me" is Perfectly Timed and Highly Valuable

Julia Gibson and Jeffrey Meanza in What the Constitution Means to Me. Photo by HuthPhoto, courtesy of PlayMakers Repertory Company.

There’s no better (or more important) time than an election year for people to reflect on their values, their rights, and the lessons they can learn from our nation’s history. Thus, now is the perfect time for a revival performance of Heidi Schreck’s intimate, almost-one-woman play, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” which is currently gracing the stage at PlayMakers Repertory Company. 

The highly personal play, directed by Aubrey Snowden, is a sort of show-within-a-show. In it, Schreck, portrayed here by the fabulous Julia Gibson, plays two versions of herself. Depending on the moment, she’s either a fully grown woman or a young teen participating (with great aplomb) in Constitutional debates. In some brief instances, she’s even an odd mix of both. But, thanks to Schreck’s clear writing and Gibson’s perfect, equally clear delivery, viewers are never left confused. Instead, they can easily follow along for each moment of this wild-but-worthwhile ride.

As Schreck’s character delivers wonderful bits of information through recreations of her past speeches, the audience learns a lot about history—both American history and Schreck’s history. And, across both of these historical lessons, disturbing truths, as well as a few triumphs, are revealed and explored. The result is a fascinating tapestry that weaves together both individual and collective experiences and that demonstrates how the two are inextricably linked.

The play tackles tough issues, including rape, violence against women, abortion laws, and, in the final moments, the question of whether or not we should draft a new Constitution. Luckily, Schreck’s character doesn’t have to do this alone. The fifteen-year-old version is aided by a grumpy but endearing Legionnaire, and the adult one has her pal, Mike Iveson, by her side. Both of these male figures are portrayed by a talented, believable-in-both-roles Jeffrey Meanza. In fact, his performance is so realistic that it’s a bit of a shock when he transitions from one character into the next. And, speaking of transitioning, Schreck’s character eventually transforms into Julia-the-actor, adding yet another fascinating dimension into this complex play.

All of the action, which concludes with a fiery, fast-as-lightning debate between Julia and a real debater (a charming Amari Bullett), plays out against Derrick Ivey’s impressive, multi-functional set.  One side of his intricate design serves as an American Legion hall, while the other is both a debate stage and a space where Julia and Amari delve into hard political topics . . . and some simpler, more human ones. Their shared, easy chemistry makes the production’s final moments all the more enjoyable. However, it must be noted that Gibson’s performance shines throughout. Despite the incredibly dense monologues, she never mumbles or misses a beat. The entire production hinges on the clarity of her performance, and she pulls off her job with (what seems like) great ease and skill.

While this is not what most would call a “happy” play, it’s a necessary one. It inspires thought and contemplation and never shies away from asking the viewers to dive deep, confront their own biases, and make some tough decisions. Filled with interaction and enough humor to maintain engagement and relieve just the right amount of tension, this is a unique, thoughtful and perfectly-timed production that everyone can benefit from.