Steppenwolf duo illuminates lovely 'Constellations'
The ingenuity of Joe Schermoly's set for “Constellations” isn't immediately apparent.
But by the end of this lovely play by British playwright Nick Payne, it becomes clear why Steppenwolf Theatre's Chicago-area premiere unfolds against what appears to be an oyster shell. It's an ideal backdrop for this shimmering little love story about what might have been. After all, pearls form inside such shells. And Jonathan Berry's gracefully directed, exquisitely acted revival is a gem.
Sweet but not cloying, cerebral yet comprehensible, “Constellations” is rooted in physics — specifically the incompatible theories of quantum mechanics (which explains subatomic particles) and relativity (which explains the universe). The play also references string theory (suggested by large, spiderweb sculptures flanking the stage). They all figure into this nonlinear drama, which imagines the myriad ways a relationship can evolve and regress.
“In the quantum multiverse, every choice, every decision you've ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes,” explains Jessie Fisher's Marianne, a physicist.
The cosmos-contemplating academic meets Jon Michael Hill's Roland, a more grounded beekeeper, at a barbecue. In the brief yet revealing vignettes that follow, multiple scenarios play out. Marianne and Roland frequently repeat dialogue verbatim. But the actors' artfully nuanced shifts in inflection and mood profoundly alter the interaction and outcome.
In some scenarios, the relationship ends before it begins. In others, the two hit it off and head back to Marianne's house. Sometimes, the late-night conversation leads to sex. Sometimes, it leads to rejection.
Fast-forward and we encounter Marianne and Roland in relationships threatened by infidelity or transformed by a marriage proposal. In another future series, they reunite (by chance) at a ballroom dance class. In yet another, they weigh their options after confronting a serious illness, the introduction of which never feels cheap or forced. Rather, it propels the play into a new realm: a poignant meditation on time and mortality, which is where “Constellations” is at its most illuminating.
Each incarnation of their relationship reflects the challenge communication poses, the difficulty of self expression and the struggle to connect with another person.
As for Fisher and Hill, they are a finely tuned duo. The expressive, engrossing Fisher is entirely authentic in the showier role. Hill, while more muted, is just as eloquent and entirely approachable.
In a play about infinite possibilities, they are fixed points.
“Constellations”
★ ★ ★ ½
<b>Location:</b> Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or <a href="http://steppenwolf.org">steppenwolf.org</a>
<b>Showtimes: </b>7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday through July 3
<b>Tickets:</b> $20-$89
<b>Running time: </b>About 75 minutes, no intermission
<b>Parking:</b> $11 in the Steppenwolf parking lot
<b>Rating: </b>For adults; contains adult situations, language