With a running time of about 85 minutes performed without an intermission, “Constellations,” written by British playwright Nick Payne in 2012, is a fascinating examination of love, beekeeping, string theory, heartbreak and cosmology – NOT cosmetology!

It’s obvious that director Reed Flores steadily guided his cast of six to find new ways to explore the two characters in Payne’s play.  It was his idea to use six actors – three men and three women – to play the two roles.( Payne originally conceived and wrote this play as a “two-hander” – meaning it’s meant to be performed with just two actors.)

Even more interesting, Flores switches his cast around so that if a person attends “Constellations” next Thursday, and then decides to see it again with a friend a few days later, the actors would likely be playing what is described as a different track than the ones they played the first time.

Payne’s characters, Roland, a beekeeper, and Marianne, a physicist, meet at a party and find they are both curious and surprised by the profession of the other.  As Roland attempts to convey his joy at helping bees – and how they contribute so much to life on earth – Marianne discovers she is fascinated by something so completely foreign to her world.

In turn, Marianne captivates Roland by talking about her profession that is world’s away from his.  She is, she tells him, a physicist who spends her days on a computer working through complex topics like quantum mechanics and the belief that there are multiple universes that direct people’s lives.  Despite their very different backgrounds, they fall in love and move in together. But eventually they break up when Marianne admits to having sex – more than once – with a man she works with.

From left: Vivienne Truing and Thomas Nguyen
Photo credit: Reed Flores

Fast forward several years and they accidentally run into each other at a ballroom dance class.  Marianne surprises Roland by telling him that she happened to notice his honey (now bottled and sold at a nearby farmer’s market), so she bought some.

Both are at the ballroom dance class because they are going to weddings –- as guests — and each admits to being a terrible dancer.  It’s charming to watch them try to dance a rudimentary box step without stepping on each other’s feet!

Eventually they realize that they love each other and marry.  What happens after that won’t be revealed here.  It’s best to watch how it all unfolds at The Pear.

While all six actors in “Constellations” are universally excellent, Vivienne Truong stands out for her gut-wrenching acting as she deals with a serious illness.. Sahil Singh also demonstrates sincerity  as he shows sympathy for Marianne.

From left: Raven Douglas and Sahil Singh
Photo credit: Reed Flores

Louis Stone-Collonge’s simple, yet amazing set design adds much to this show.  The floor is covered with blue and pink string designs, a nod back to the fact that Marianne studies string theory, while the back wall is dotted with various sizes of white balls, reminiscent of outer space.

Lighting designer Carsten Koester also deserves mention because his lighting must be precise, going on and off quickly as one set of actors stops talking and another pair start their conversation.

From left:  George Alexander K. and Elana Swartz
Photo credit: Reed Flores

“Constellations’ includes four other actors (Elana Swartz, George Alexander K., Thomas Nguyen and Raven Douglas), and all show their acting chops in this production.  Occasionally Douglas speaks too softly, especially when her back is turned to some of the audience, which means a few of her lines are hard to hear.

Nevertheless, thanks to Flores’ steady direction, such a fine production deserves full houses for every performance.

Note: “Constellations” comes with a warning that the play has mature content.

The Pear Theatre presents “Constellations” by Nick Payne.
Now through July 20, 2025
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.  and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. No performance on Friday, July 4.
Pear Theater, 1110 La Avenida, Mountain View, CA 94043
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at www.thepear.org. For more information, call Pear Theatre at 650) 254 – 1148.

The first thing anyone attending the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley production of “Come Back to the 5 & Dime,  Jimmy Dean,  Jimmy Dean, a New Musical” sees is the unbelievably detailed set created by Nina Ball.  It’s the interior of the “5 & Dime” store in the small town of McCarthy, Texas.

That’s where the entire play takes place, save for one short scene in the store’s restroom.

The TheatreWorks version of Ed Graczyk’s 1976 play is a musical, and it’s having its world premiere at the Mountain View Center of the Performing Arts, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, TheatreWorks’ artistic director.

As the play opens,  Loretta (skillfully performed by Judith Miller) is cleaning the lunch counter with a cloth and trying to kill an errant fly with a flyswatter.

There’s no mistaking that audience members are now witnessing what life is like living in McCarthy in the 1970s.

But this is no ordinary day.  It happens to be the 20^th anniversary of the day James Dean died. His small but loyal Texas “fan club” vowed to get together to commemorate his death — and they plan to meet at the 5 & Dime store where they have a small cabinet filled with his photos.

First to arrive is Mona, realistically played by Lauren Marcus.  Mona walks in, looking bedraggled after a long, hot bus ride.  Loretta greets her and says she’ll perk up with a glass of Orange Crush.  Mona drinks a bit, then runs out the door to look for her son,  Joe, the boy she says is the result of once having sex with James Dean.

Mona later returns and remembers the cabinet full of James Dean photos at the 5 and Dime.  She runs over to turn on a string of white lights surrounding the photos.  Then she opens her suitcase and pulls out a piece of concrete that she says she picked up when the bus stopped at James Dean’s crumbling down house.

Next to arrive is a buxom blonde named Sissie (amusingly performed by Stephanie Gibson).  Dressed in a short red-and-white dress and cowboy boots, Sissie sashays around and sings the song “Big Time Country Singer.”   Bursting into the restaurant next is Hayley Lovgren as Stella Mae. Stella May is a robust woman with a voice to match.  She’s a hoot to watch as she belts out “Goddamn! I Love Texas!”

From left: Judith Miller as Loretta, Lauren Marcus as Mona and Stephanie Gibson as Sissy.

Photo: Kevin Berne

A very tall redhead wearing sunglasses enters next, dressed in a white suit.  The other women look at her but don’t recognize her.  When she takes off her sunglasses, she smiles at them and tells them she used to be named Joe, but 15 years ago she changed it to Joanne and is now transgender.

This is Shakina, who not only performs in the show but also wrote the lyrics for the songs.  Her rendition of “Survival” is nothing short of riveting and a play highlight.

On her heels enters a shorter woman wearing what almost looks like a nurse’s uniform.  She’s holding an orange and green dress in a plastic bag over her arm.  Ashley Cowl disappears into her role of Edna Louise, provoking the audience’s sympathy when she’s berated by Stella May.

But Joanne comes to her defense, which effectively shuts up Stella May.

Another highlight is Lovgren and Cowl singing the song “El Cajon Chiquito” in both English and Spanish, with Lovgren singing the English lyrics and Cowl singing them in Spanish.

Later,  the women collectively put up a big sign that says “The 20^th Anniversary Reunion of the Disciples of James Dean.”

The next scene is about a talent show when all of the women were in the 1955 class of McCarthy High School. This part of the play needs some work because it seems somewhat out of place (or perhaps it just needs to be more closely integrated into the rest of the play).

From left:  Shakina as Joanne and Hayley Lovgren as Stella Mae.

Photo: Kevin Berne

The lone male in the show is Ellie Van Amerongen who plays both Mona’s son  Joe as well as Jimmy Dean.  (Mona insists that Joe’s father is James Dean,  who Joe does resemble. Yet the other women aren’t sure whether what she says is true or is a figment of her imagination.)

As music director,  Jacob Yates does a fine job of both playing the keyboard and leading the small band consisting of Stephen Danska and Tim Roberts on guitar, Kendra Kop on bass and Artie Storch on percussion.

Alina Bokovikova’s costumes seem to fit the roles of each actor in “Jimmy Dean,” and Y. Sharon Peng’s wig and hair design is spot on. Although Kurt Landisman’s lighting is excellent, sound design by Cliff Caruthers needs some fine tuning so that every actor can be heard distinctly in all parts of the theater.

This production contains mature language and themes, including violence and references to sexual interactions. Parental guidance is suggested; not recommended for youth under 13.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, a New Musical” based on the play by Ed Graczyk.  Book by Ashley Robinson, music by Dan Gillespie Sells and lyrics by Shakina.
Now through July 13, 2025
Tuesdays through Sundays

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041

Tickets are $44 – $94 and can be purchased by calling (650) 903-6000 or online at www.theatreworks.org