If, If Only and What If: A Review of "Constellations" at American Players Theatre

Mary Wisniewski, NewCity Stage

Please note: this review contains major spoilers of Nick Payne's Constellations.

“Constellations” is a play that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels cool and cerebral. Short scenes are repeated, often with different results, demonstrating concepts from physics about string theory and multiple universes. It is initially hard to connect with this rather ordinary romance. But through fine performances by Phoebe González and Casey Hoekstra, the show gathers strength and ultimately knocked me over.

The one-act play by Nick Payne follows the relationship between Marianne (González), a physicist, and Roland (Hoekstra), a beekeeper (yes, he assures her, he really makes his living that way). They meet at a barbecue, but later break up due to unfaithfulness by both parties. They get back together, and Marianne learns she has brain cancer and only a short time to live. Together, they make hard choices about the future.

It’s hard to avoid spoilers in describing this play, since it travels back and forth in time and between possibilities. A scene can play in three different ways—will they move in together? Will Roland marry the woman with whom he had an affair? Will Marianne and Roland reunite? Sometimes the difference between scenes is just saying the same thing in a different tone. But in every situation, the performances are real, and the play doesn’t feel like a gimmick but a true portrayal of how life works. It’s like cubism in story form—the variations are altogether at once.

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