Playmaker “What the Constitution Means to Me” is a complete success –

Politics can be a difficult topic.

How can a playwright do justice to 250 years of politics in just two hours? How can an actor appeal to an audience already entrenched in their own views? How can such a serious topic be the focus of a comedy?

As challenging as it is, I can say with confidence that Playmakers Repertory Company Production of Heidi Schrecks “What the Constitution means to me” was a refreshingly successful interpretation of politics.

The focus of the piece is Heidi Schreck herself, played by Julia Gibsonas she pondered the U.S. Constitution. For most of the production, Gibson’s role alternated between Heidi’s present-day self, in her mid-40s, and her 15-year-old self, as she competed in scholarship competitions to defend the Constitution.

Gibson’s ability to look at the same subject from two completely different perspectives was masterful. I was particularly impressed by the nuance she brought to her portrayal of 15-year-old Heidi, whose views and connections to politics – albeit differently founded – proved to be just as insightful and valuable as they were in her adulthood. The 15-year-old character also provided the necessary comedic moments, highlighting Gibson’s comedic timing and ability to maintain a commanding stage presence without taking himself too seriously.

“What the Constitution Means to Me” was comedic, but anything but your average comedy. The focus was on a history lesson. As the production progressed, Heidi’s narrative became increasingly dominated by her current perspective as the subject matter became increasingly personal to her. With this transition, the tone of the play shifted away from comedy and began to convey serious insights to the audience.

One moment that particularly stood out to me was Gibson’s portrayal of Heidi’s memories of her own abortion and the conversation about sexual violence that followed shortly thereafter. The theater, which had been full of laughter just minutes before, was silent and full of deep contemplation and compassion for Heidi and the women in the stories she told.

The most powerful moment of the evening came when Heidi made the competition host, played by Jeffrey Meanzaface her and read the laws used to defend sexual and physical abuse of women. This moment sparked a discussion about gender and women’s role in decision-making that continued throughout the rest of the production.

By the end of the evening, immigration, sexual violence, women’s rights, violence against indigenous communities and LGBTQ+ rights had been addressed. Each was nuanced and thoughtful, never rushed or rushed.