http://constellationsbroadway.com/
Rating: 4/5 stars
I was fortunate enough to snag a ticket to Constellations on Broadway this past Friday night, February 6th. I say snag, because after the rave Ben Brantley gave Constellations, the tiny theater that the show is in, that it's a limited run, and the huge draw of Jake Gyllenhaal, the tickets went like hot cakes. Since this production was through one of the three main non-profit theater companies, Manhattan Theatre Club, I was able to get a 30 under 30 ticket which meant I only paid $41 (with taxes/fees) while most others probably paid over $100.
I will say I went in with high expectations but also a bit of judgement since the play is only a whopping 70 minutes (possibly shortest play on Broadway yet?) and includes two big star names as the only actors in the play, aka stunt casting.
I want to point out, because I think it's important, the set was absolutely beautiful. And the sound design coordinated with the lighting had a very strong impact on my emotions throughout the play.
So for those of you who have seen David Ives' Sure Thing, or seen If/Then, or seen any sort of multiple scenarios on the same event...then you've seen Constellations. The premise is they meet at a party and the actors play out several different possibilities. They go through a lot of relationship cliches (first time you invite him over, cheating, running into each other after a breakup, etc) and don't necessarily add anything new to those topics.
However, what Constellations did that others haven't, is relate it all back to multiple realities/parallel dimensions. Ruth Wilson plays a physicist who explains to Jake (a beekeeper...?) that we either have no free will and only one dimension exists, or there are multiple dimensions and realities happening every time we make a decision and that somewhere that life is playing out somewhere else (she worded this better than I just did). And not to give away important plot points, she lovingly explains that they have all the time in the world, and that they always have and always will.
And ultimately, why this play worked and why people are running to go see it, is Jake and Ruth are so incredibly raw on that stage. They don't care how stupid, how loud, how embarrassing, how vulnerable they have to be. It's this incredible trust game they play where they're pushing each other to be even more honest than the last scene. And the warm, loving moments they have with each other just break your heart. I even teared up in one scene where the love between them was so powerful, I felt it within myself. And here's hoping the rumors that they are dating are true.
So, who should see this show:
How to get tickets:
I was fortunate enough to snag a ticket to Constellations on Broadway this past Friday night, February 6th. I say snag, because after the rave Ben Brantley gave Constellations, the tiny theater that the show is in, that it's a limited run, and the huge draw of Jake Gyllenhaal, the tickets went like hot cakes. Since this production was through one of the three main non-profit theater companies, Manhattan Theatre Club, I was able to get a 30 under 30 ticket which meant I only paid $41 (with taxes/fees) while most others probably paid over $100.
I will say I went in with high expectations but also a bit of judgement since the play is only a whopping 70 minutes (possibly shortest play on Broadway yet?) and includes two big star names as the only actors in the play, aka stunt casting.
I want to point out, because I think it's important, the set was absolutely beautiful. And the sound design coordinated with the lighting had a very strong impact on my emotions throughout the play.
So for those of you who have seen David Ives' Sure Thing, or seen If/Then, or seen any sort of multiple scenarios on the same event...then you've seen Constellations. The premise is they meet at a party and the actors play out several different possibilities. They go through a lot of relationship cliches (first time you invite him over, cheating, running into each other after a breakup, etc) and don't necessarily add anything new to those topics.
However, what Constellations did that others haven't, is relate it all back to multiple realities/parallel dimensions. Ruth Wilson plays a physicist who explains to Jake (a beekeeper...?) that we either have no free will and only one dimension exists, or there are multiple dimensions and realities happening every time we make a decision and that somewhere that life is playing out somewhere else (she worded this better than I just did). And not to give away important plot points, she lovingly explains that they have all the time in the world, and that they always have and always will.
And ultimately, why this play worked and why people are running to go see it, is Jake and Ruth are so incredibly raw on that stage. They don't care how stupid, how loud, how embarrassing, how vulnerable they have to be. It's this incredible trust game they play where they're pushing each other to be even more honest than the last scene. And the warm, loving moments they have with each other just break your heart. I even teared up in one scene where the love between them was so powerful, I felt it within myself. And here's hoping the rumors that they are dating are true.
So, who should see this show:
- People on dates
- Girls night with your best friends
- Alone, if you've ever been in love
How to get tickets:
- If you are under 30, sign up for 30 under 30 through MTC, but they may be all gone now
- No discount tickets will be available most likely, so you'll have to go through telecharge!