Nick Payne's Constellations

Caught the local debut of a modern play (I mean 21st century modern as it premiered in 2012), Constellations by Nick Payne, by Rabbit Hole Productions for their debut production. Got a ticket pretty late (the first weekend of performances had come and gone) in the run (didn't know about it until I heard about it on BFM a few days before) - the penultimate show on Saturday night. Finally, a contemporary play (for me)! 

One relationship, infinite possibilities.

Constellations by Nick Payne was described by the New York Times as the most sophisticated date play Broadway has seen. This September 12th, the play is making its Malaysian debut. 

Marianne, a physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper, meet at a party. They hit it off, and go for a drink. Or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they go their separate ways. Perhaps Marianne is engaged to someone else, perhaps Roland is. Maybe she breaks his heart, maybe he breaks hers. Perhaps they come together and their love story can finally take root and grow, or perhaps it will be tragically cut short.

Constellations explores how even the smallest change in our lives can dramatically alter the course we take. It is a spellbinding exploration of love, science, quantum multiverse theory, and infinite possibility for heartbreak or for hope.

It was pretty full when I was there, which is not bad for a penultimate show (I think)? I also recognised some fellow audience members, performers coming to support their colleagues. It was also free seating, so it got a little nuts when the doors to DPAC's Black Box space upstairs were finally opened. The set was (I'm guessing) set in one corner of the space, with the audience split in two blocks of seating in different corners so they were watching the show from different angles. Not your usual theatre seating arrangement. 

It's the story of Marianne and Roland (played by Amelia Chen and Dominic Lucien Luk, respectively), but with different outcomes based on the decisions they made and directions they each take, but the basics remain the same. Reminded me of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. It's a lot of quick conversations and scenes as they go through the different permutations of their relationship, punctuated by the audio and light cues. 

If you don't like the movie Groundhog Day (or anything like it), then this might be bordering on annoying. It's about 70 minutes long, which was tolerable. Don't think I can tahan if it went on any longer. But I don't regret catching this one. I would say go watch it if there's a production near you. 

PS.

• I thought this was an interesting choice for a debut production. Considering it's a two hander play... it was probably easier to stage than a full blown, ensemble production? Maybe?
• I would've put this post out sooner, but life got in the way. Better late than never?