Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (Member, American Theatre Critics Association)
and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)
Photos courtesy of Sean Carter Photography
Gracie Walch, Cheryl Turski, Dani Cochrane, Timothy Goodwin
A Sobering, Hilarious and Timely “Constitution”
“Not just the best play to open on Broadway so far this season, but also the most important.”
– The New York Times [March 2019]
Does the Constitution really protect all citizens? Should it be abolished and rewritten? Whose interests does it represent? These and other questions are asked, and answered, in a lively and often comic whirlwind of a show. The 90 minutes pass quickly with no intermission, so plan ahead. Did you fall asleep in high school civics? This could be the one civics class you wish you had taken.
Crafted by noted American playwright Heidi Schreck, “What the Constitution Means to Me” is a true account of her experiences traveling the country at age 15, giving speeches in the American Legion’s National Oratorical Contest. The prize money she won for her compelling speeches, on her family’s personal and historic connection to the Constitution, financed her college education.
Premiering on Broadway in March 2019, “Constitution” emerged as the Pulitzer Prize finalist for that year and received two Tony award nominations, including for Best Play. Schreck performed the lead role as herself at age 15, supported by two other characters – one called Legionnaire and the other Debater. There are many surprises and “Oh wow” moments that are at times exhilarating, at other times disturbing. Told from a feminist perspective, it addresses the women’s suffrage movement, citizenship, slavery, civil rights and abortion rights. Special emphasis is placed on the 14th and 9th Amendments with fascinating information revealed. Thought experiments are presented that can challenge our preconceived notions of who we are as individuals, and as a nation.
Continuing its 59th season, “Constitution” at MBT utilizes what’s known as Environmental Theatre, with plenty of audience interaction, laughter, cheers and boos, and much excitement both onstage and in the auditorium. Dani Cochrane and Cheryl Turski alternate in the role of Heidi. On a recent Sunday matinee, Turski (“The Angel Next Door”) fills the bill perfectly with a spontaneous and limber delivery, in both comedy and tragedy. Timothy Goodwin (“Catch Me If You Can”) supports Turski as Legionnaire, but comes into his own as Mike, a gentle and sympathetic character. Gracie Walch (in her MBT debut) as Debater, appears later in the show to offer a vigorous counterpoint to Turski’s Heidi and instigate some of the most dynamic reactions from the audience. Bonus: pocket copies of the Constitution were passed out to each member of the audience!
The smooth pacing and compelling subject matter hold your attention from start to finish. For director Travis Walter, it’s personal. The history of our country has fascinated him since he was a boy, and he has said directing this show “is a unique challenge”. His guided movements of the three characters around the stage offer clever transitions that scene changes would normally provide, keeping the interest flowing. The simple set by Ben Hirschfield, designed to replicate a typical American Legion hall, is the perfect backdrop to the unfolding story.
Granted, this show may not be for everyone. It’s intense, provocative and engaging. It presents riveting true stories from the playwright’s own personal family history that highlight the Constitution’s glorious benefits, and also its dangerous flaws. If you’re looking for mindless escapism, this sure isn’t it. But if you want to experience, and confront head-on, the incredibly vital issues that have faced the United States ever since its founding document was drafted, and that continue today, this show is a must-see.
Please note new 7:30 PM evening start times for this season!
When: Now through March 8, 2026
Tickets $40 to $48
Where: Meadow Brook Theatre at Wilson Hall
Oakland University
378 Meadow Brook Rd
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
(248) 377-3300
www.mbtheatre.com
This production is made possible through the generous support of the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, the Shubert Foundation and the Meadow Brook Theatre Guild.
Meadow Brook Theatre is a professional theatre located on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. MBT is a nonprofit cultural institution serving southeast Michigan for 59 years.
