By: Marsia Johnson
The 80 minute production of Nick Payne’s Constellations will premier on Thursday, October 4 and Friday, October 5th at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio Theater at PLU. The story follows the relationship of Marianne, a nerdy astrophysicist, and Roland, a humble beekeeper through alternating realities in accordance to string theory.
Senior Chuck Stern is directing the play. Stern said when he first read the script he just knew he had to get his hands on it. Two years ago, Stern had the idea of bring the production to PLU, and came to junior Lily Oellerich to be his stage manager.
“It’s about considering the possibilities that every choice you ever and never made exists in sixth thousand universes and entertaining that this could be happening while also not letting it ruin your present,” Oellerich said.
The show covers a wide range of themes such as mortality and time. Stern says that the show’s main focus is on the concepts of love and time.
“What most people don’t know about me is I am a huge romantic, and the audience roots for love,” Stern says. “I think the theme of the show is that love is unpredictable.”
Stern says he wants the audience to leave with feelings of resolution and hopefully finding themselves in these very real situations. Since this is a story about infinite possibilities, the show mimics real life moments, hoping to be relatable to audience members.
Actors Gabby Tatone and David Smith say that they use those fun, light-hearted scenes to energize themselves through the heavy moments of the play. The show can be dark, but it can also be funny and presents light moments that mirrors real situations.
Oellerich said that something that is so dark and devastating can be very exhausting and takes a lot out of a person, but she credits how the actors go into each parallel almost like they are completely different characters.
The cast and crew acknowledge that Nick Payne’s notion of a multiverse might inspire a lot of open ended questions and reflection in the audience.
When: Thursday Oct. 4 & Friday Oct. 5
Where: Studio Theater/ Black Box
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5
