Reviewer: Connor S. Rousseau
Venue: Malcolm Field Theatre
Saginaw Valley State University’s first stage production of the 2026-2027 season featured a compelling and controversial production that offers a modern look at the US Constitution, the oldest document of its kind still in use today.
Every year on September 17, our nation takes time to reflect on and appreciate our Constitution, the oldest document of its kind still in use today. Through its enlightened ideas and fundamental amendments, it has held the nation together for over two centuries. But has its time come and gone? Is America itching for something new and more refined? These are the questions this production aimed to consider.
This show did not shy away from deep, dark, controversial topics. Issues such as racism, sexism, gender inequality, and abortion were explicitly discussed, and I am glad they were. The production aimed to humanize history itself and challenge the audience’s understanding of the document that holds our fifty states together. Personal experiences from the life of Heidi Schreck, the play’s protagonist, were deeply moving and thought-provoking. Much-needed comedic relief was carefully but abruptly injected at certain moments throughout the play, which caused some audience members to give a solitary chuckle at the “wrong” time while leaving the auditorium dead silent at a moment meant to bring some relief. I don’t see this as a flaw in the production, though. The topics presented can cause uncomfortable feelings, dissonance, and awkwardness. That is exactly what a production covering such deep topics should do. That makes its core ideas raw, resonating, relatable, and resounding.
Adding to the production’s realism and historical accuracy, actual audiotapes of Supreme Court justices were played, immersing me in history. Balancing such moments with the Constitution’s modern-day applications is challenging but well executed in this play. I was able to connect the Constitution’s past to its modern usage and analyze the “penumbra” motif that keeps controversy fresh in our Constitution’s fine print.
In this three-person show, it is easy to overlook the additional time, talent, and effort that comes from stage, sound, costume, and lighting designers. It was evident from the acting and carefully constructed set that Director Tommy Wedge put great effort into making this production worthy of SVSU’s high theatrical standards. The program also shines a spotlight of gratitude on these behind-the-scenes workers whose contributions make productions like these a success.
The program, however, did not satisfy all my expectations. The audience did not receive paper programs but rather QR codes for virtual programs. Physical programs would have made the show’s information more accessible to all audience members and delivered a more equitable experience for those without a phone.
More importantly, while the program provided a wealth of information about each actor/actress, their major, and the production’s history and purpose for modern audiences, it contained several spelling and technical errors. On the front cover of the program, certain errors such as “originat3ed as part of Summerworks in Juen and JUly” and “Artiistic Dire3ctor” were overlooked before publication. Additionally, “managear,” “secreatry,” “managment,” “hair and makup,” “assitant,” and “Thomas Jeferson” are not easy-to-overlook typos but rather bold mistakes I was surprised to find in a college-level production.
A careful proofreading session would have caught these errors, and spelling errors do not make or break a production’s success. Despite these errors, the program presents a fine summary of the production and synopsis of those who assembled it. Programs that provide such in-depth analysis of the story, the production process, and the people who put it together enrich the audience’s entire experience. I was also impressed by the special thanks given to the people and organizations that helped bring the show to life.
Finally, what sets this production apart from others is the creative use of the audience. Everyone was gifted their own pocket Constitution and experienced a live debate between two actresses from the play. Following appropriate debate procedures and protocols, they debated whether the Constitution should be retained or abolished, and the audience was encouraged to participate by cheering, clapping, stomping, booing, or however they wished to express their approval or disapproval of the debaters’ arguments. It was a raw, authentic application of the play’s central message. It ignited a spark inside me, and there was no better way to teach the audience that in this Great American Experiment, none of us is a spectator in the audience. We are all cast members in this play, and we decide what the next page reads.
In summary, the SVSU theatre department’s production of What the Constitution Means to Me successfully humanized history itself and convinced me that the Constitution is a living, breathing, imperfect document that stirs controversy and conversation. An emotional rollercoaster with necessary comedic relief, this production was engaging and encouraging. Even with its deep, dark themes and moments, hope springs eternal. Conversations and debates can and must happen, as the end of the play demonstrated.