REVIEW: What the Constitution Means to Me (Reston Community Players)

In a time of patriotism stirred by the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the political unrest stirred by high profile injustices, RCP's production of What the Constitution Means to Me is a thoughtful, critical, appreciative exploration of the document and its effect on playwright Heidi Schreck.

Originally performed by the author, the leading actress plays the role of Heidi in a series of extended monologues with very little down time for the first hour of the show. Claire O'Brien Jeffrey delivered this mega monologue with unwavering energy and iron focus. Jeffrey's performance smoothly ranged from perky fifteen year old to warm, more knowledgeable forty-something, to heartbroken, to hopeful, to angry, to cynical, to joyful—always passionate about the Constitution, its protections, the failings and successes of our government. She expertly held the audience's attention with her expressive eyes, her clear and specific delivery, and her winning smile (even if her face might get sore after all that).

Sharing the stage with her for almost the entire time is Doug Marcks as the Legionnaire (also appearing as himself). Marcks's soft-spoken but direct Legionnaire brought “positive male energy” to the stage. His tender midshow monologue showed him to be a theatrical force, matching his teammates on this demanding script. Rounding out the tiny cast is Tori Mayfield-Brown as the Debater. She plays a version of herself, a high school senior with great stage presence who goes head-to-head with Jeffrey in a live debate. Together the three of them present a tight show that keeps moving. Director Rikki Howie Lacewell creates a welcoming world of the play where no moment goes wasted and where every actor truly shines.

The props by MaryJo Ford are excellent, from the cutest sock monkeys in the world to a perfect book for the script, inside and out. The set design by Dan Widerski was interesting but simple enough for all of the many story beats to fit in. The large video and photo projection (displayed perfectly without distortion or obscurity) filled out the entire upstage wall and provided frequent context. Place-setting photos, real footage of judges, and text from the Constitution allowed the audience to follow along easily without missing a beat.

This timely show will leave you with new ideas and questions about our founding document. It invites you to engage with the Constitution and the show itself, and you'll find you'll want to do just that.

What the Constitution Means to Me is presented by Reston Community Players from now through Sunday, March 29. Tickets are $35 assigned seats or $30 for students/seniors and available here. (A discount code for student tickets is available on RCP's Facebook.) This play features discussions of history, including generational trauma and gender based violence.