by Alec Clayton
Harlequin’s performance of What the Constitution Means to Me is no ordinary play. From the moment actor Jenny Vaugh Hall as playwright and protagonist Heidi Schreck walks down from the back of the audience to stand on the stage and introduce herself, the audience feels they are not in a theater but in a small town American Legion Hall, and the actor Hall is not playing a part but the writer of the play being herself as an adult and a fifteen-year-old.
Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. Here, she tells us about those debate competitions, and in Act Two another actor joins her as a high school student to reenact the debates.
On Broadway, What the Constitution Means to Me was nominated for two Tony Awards, and it was successfully performed throughout the country. A filmed version was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award.
Director Lauren Love said, “Schreck asks us to consider the morality and soundness of our own and our leaders’ judgment and action. With a focus on women’s lived experience in relation to the ideas put forward in the Constitution, Schreck asks who qualifies for citizenship, whose rights are protected and who is making and interpreting the laws that flow from this document… ultimately radically, she asks is this constitution still working for us — all of us?”
Harlequin regulars will remember Hall from such performances as Nora in A Doll’s House and Ivy in August: Osage County. As Heidi Schreck, at 15 and 50-something, she is energetic, sassy, provocative and funny.
Nathan Rice as Mike the debate judge, previously played Bob Cratchit in the 2121 and 2023 versions of A Christmas Carol. He is deadpan serious as Mike.
Teen actors Izumi Huff and Simone Meade alternate in portraying the teen debater. Huff was in the role as the smart, passionate, challenging debater in the production seen by this writer.
What the Constitution Means to Me runs a little more than two hours. It is thought-provoking, serious where it needs to be and outlandishly funny throughout.
Photos by Shanna Paxton Photography.
WHAT:
What the Constitution Means to Me
WHEN:
Through Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays and Wednesday, October 30
WHERE:
Harlequin Productions’ State Theater, 202 4th Ave. E, Olympia
HOW MUCH:
$43 general, $40 for seniors/military and $28 for students.
There are half price rush tickets and $5 teen rush tickets day of show, and there are three pay-what-you-can performances. Call the box office for PWYC dates.
LEARN MORE:
https://harlequinproductions.org/show/what-the-constitution-means-to-me/
(360) 786-0151
Harlequin Productions “What the Constitution Means to Me” contest winners: https://harlequinproductions.org/constitution-contest-winners/