Heidi Schreck’s sensational play “What the Constitution Means to Me” kicks off the season at George Street Playhouse in a HUGE way! Kate Baldwin takes on Heidi’s role in this production with her foil and collaborator Nicholas Rodriguez as The Legionnaire and so much more as we go on an educational romp on why the Constitution is a living document. Add in as Debaters Niara Beckwith and Wobirba Ekuba Sarpey, depending upon which performance you see, and there is the chance to see the generational span of the importance of a historic document.
For the first portion of the show, Ms. Baldwin shows us Heidi Schreck’s thought processes and they are very revealing. The best shows strip away the veneer of polite society to show us the beating heart within and Ms. Schreck does that with her script. Director Laiona Michelle burnishes these actors and this show to a fine and deep clarity that shows the grain of who we are as Americans. We see both the aspirational aspects while recognizing we have feet of clay.
Shoko Cambara’s Scenic Design is well complemented by Christopher J. Bailey’s Lighting and Kwamina Biney’s Sound Designs. Nilamar Felder’s costumes complete our set of experts with an excellent balance again with color, texture and more of where we start and where we’d like to be.
There are places for you to participate – do it! It’s good preparation for the next voting adventure we have in November. The Constitution is for everyone, and if you ever doubted it, this show will remind you via Ms. Baldwin and Mr. Rodriguez – they are expert actors who turn in deeply felt performances. The fresh perspectives provided by Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Sarpey provide hope. Ms. Beckwith was featured in the performance I saw. I was a debater in high school and she gave me a lovely reminder of my past while encouraging me to look forward to the future. I emerged energized, knowing the work ahead and feeling like I was well on my way. Thank you George Street, thank you.
Vote with your feet and run to this production! This show is over October 13, immediately before the Voter Registration cutoff in NJ where your form needs a postmark on or before October 15. Your tickets are waiting. Visit https://www.georgestreetplayhouse.org/events/detail/what-the-constitution-means-to-me.