By DANIEL SHOCK
A Seat on the Aisle
“This play is upsetting. It upset me, and change requires upset.”
This line from the director K.T. Peterson’s notes struck me as I sipped my wine and read the program, waiting for What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck to begin.
My thoughts turned to my sister, a resident of Colorado, who, in the last week or so, has clearly become upset. She has flooded her social media with posts regarding the family court system of Colorado and the laws that allow abusers access to their children. I haven’t spoken to her about it yet. But knowing her, and knowing the mother that bore us … she is enraged.
In some ways, this play felt like it was for her, and I found myself wishing she could see it with me. Knowing nothing beyond what I was reading in the program, I started to brace myself for an angry performance.
Almost immediately, that prediction proved wrong. This is a play with a variety of emotions. First and foremost, it is a funny play. This play is political in the best of ways. It makes the issues relevant and personal.
It begins with local actor Claire Wilcher in the role of the play’s author, Heidi Schreck, as her present self, telling us about her past self at 15, participating in constitutional debate contests in pursuit of money for college. She sets the scene with warmth and humor, drawing us in over the course of the first act. Her openness and vulnerability create a dialogue with the audience that makes you feel like you’re listening to your best friend tell you her story – filled with laughter, tears, anger, and most importantly – hope for the future.
Claire Wiltcher stars as author Heidi Schreck. (Photo by Rob Slaven / IndyGhostLight.com)
Roger Ebert used to say that “movies are empathy machines,” allowing you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Well, surely that applies to theater as well, and to no play more than this one. Actor Ben Tebbe, as both the Legionnaire from Heidi’s memories and the actor “Danny” who is helping Heidi tell this story, provides support and humor when Heidi needs it, both as an adult and as a teenager. In the second act, Jada Radford joins the other two on stage to debate a constitutional question, bringing a youthful and vital Gen Z perspective.
I was more excited than usual to see What the Constitution Means to Me because it was the first time I would get to see Claire Wilcher in a show. I’ve seen some actors countless times on stage, but Claire has somehow eluded me for the 20 continuous years I’ve been involved in central Indiana theatre. (The only other time I came close was listening to her hysterical, disembodied ad-libs at an Encore Awards ceremony years ago.) Based on this performance, her reputation is well-earned. There are two other excellent supporting cast members, but Ms. Wilcher easily carries 75 to 85 percent of this show on her own. She is funny, warm, and vulnerable. I can’t imagine there ever being a better production of this play than the one happening right here, right now, in Indianapolis in 2024.
The technical aspects are as well done as the acting and compliment the performances well. Nick Kilgore’s set design provides a space that is acknowledged within the play to be a set. Tim Dick’s lighting design artfully underscores shifts in tone, highlighting moments of humor, sorrow, and tension. Kevin Caraher’s sound design delivers historical recordings to illustrate Heidi’s points. Kristin Renee Boyd’s costumes are casual and fit each actor so well they could have come from their own closets.
What the Constitution Means to Me runs at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre in Indianapolis through Sept. 22, 2024. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch this intimate and moving production. For tickets and more information, visit phoenixtheatre.org/buy-tickets.
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