“What the Constitution Means to Me”: a civics lesson, a debate, and a warm, funny show

Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me is a memory play, of sorts. In it, the adult Heidi transforms into her 15-year-old self, traveling to American Legion halls, competing with other young students for scholarship money. We get to hear her unconventional speech on how the Constitution affects her. It combines girlish fantasies, pop culture tropes, and information about her foremothers. She also gives her interpretation of the meaning behind the Fourteenth Amendment — the one that defines who is a citizen of the United States and introduces the concepts of “due process” and “equal protection.” 

The adult Heidi returns and gives a timeline of the long road women traveled to obtain the same rights men were granted from the beginning. The show ends with a debate on the proposition “The Constitution of the United States should be abolished”. A local high school debater comes on stage to confront the adult Heidi on the question using standard debating rules (a coin toss determines which side each person takes). A judge selected from the audience votes on behalf of the audience to decide which side presented the better argument.

What the Constitution Means to Me is directed with skill and easy style by George Street Playhouse Artistic Associate Laiona Michelle. She elicits realistic performances from her cast — two-time Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin as the younger and older Heidis; Nicholas Rodriguez as “the Legionnaire,” who acts as the moderator of both young Heidi’s contest and adult Heidi’s debate; and Niara Beckwith as the student debater (alternating with Wobirba Ekuba Sarpey at other performances).

Shoko Kambara has created Schreck’s memories of her hometown American Legion post in Wenatchee, Wash. (the apple capital of the world) on stage, looking for all the world like a scene from a diorama. As lit by Christopher J. Bailey, it contains a slight golden glow as remembered by Heidi, but is fully, brightly lit during the debate later in the show. Nilamar Felder’s costume for Heidi transitions nicely from a smart woman’s jacket and slacks transforming into a teen girl’s competition outfit. Felder also scores with a youthful ensemble for Beckwith’s debater and a t-shirt for Rodriguez with a message supporting trans rights worn underneath his Legionnaire’s outfit.

The main point of What the Constitution Means to Me is that, for all its flaws, the U.S. Constitution has endured and evolved throughout the nation’s history, via amendment and interpretation. It still speaks to us today, affecting us in ways we may not realize. What the Constitution Means to Me encourages each of us to take another look at it and see what it means to us today, and does so with warmth and humor. I encourage you to see this lovingly crafted memory play / history lesson and challenge you to find out What the Constitution Means to Me!

What the Constitution Means to Me is presented by the George Street Playhouse in the Arthur Laurents Theatre at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center through Oct. 13, 2024. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 732-246-7717 or visit georgestreetplayhouse.org.