[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Collaborative Artists Ensemble’s Constellations by Nick Payne at The Sherry Theater November 1-10.
Nick Payne’s mesmerizing, dimension-jumping love story has been dazzling audiences since it was first performed in London in 2012. A couple, Marianne and Roland, meet at a BBQ and the connection is instantaneous. Marianne is a physicist and Roland a beekeeper. Two occupations that might seem completely different until you consider that a physicist contemplates the origins of the universe and a beekeeper is a caretaker for tiny beings that are the center of our entire ecosystem. So one is theoretical and the other poetically practical. But somehow both seem as vital to our existence as one another.
As the story unfolds of their relationship, we are reminded by Marianne of string theory. Everything in the universe is connected and there are therefore multiple universes where we exist in wildly disparate lives. Each choice we make creates another pathway, another lifetime of possibilities.
Every scene is repeated several times, creating more and more possible outcomes for their love. These all happen quickly, one after another and, in this way, we travel with them through their multiple lives. It’s not exactly whimsical, although there is of course that sense of the magical. It’s more like science fiction…or is it? If we embrace the theory that we are all connected to everything, something that is becoming more and more mainstream lately, then to connect this deeply with another person this quickly seems logical. Something as random as a BBQ takes on cosmic importance. Haven’t we all had accidental yet monumental moments in our lives? Who’s to say that our entire existence in the universe isn’t as casual an occurrence as missing your bus because your shoelace broke?
Either way, lately I have found less and less reason in life and perhaps it’s a better choice to give ourselves over to the pattern of existence, rather than consider we have any control over anything…less painful, more hopeful!
The good people of Collaborative Artists Ensemble have yet again picked a play with a purpose in a time when we most need it. Lovely performances with heartfelt and meaningful moments. It’s a beautiful play wonderfully realized and it’s in our NoHo Arts District, so please support them!
It runs for one more weekend, so distract yourself from all the chaos and put yourself in the hands of the universe and love.
Tickets:
https://3common.com/event/constellations-by-nick-payne/66db95ac766a27fc53c817e4
When:
November 1-10
Fridays and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm
Where:
The Sherry Theatre
11052 Magnolia Blvd., NoHo Arts District, CA 91601
The Team
This production reunites Jason Sino, as Roland, and Meg Wallace, as Marianne. The two most recently appeared in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale and A Streetcar Named Desire with Collaborative Artists Ensemble. Collectively, they are designing and directing this production along with the technical assistance of Matt Steele and additional contributions from Sage Porter.