Constellations by Nick Payne.
Directed by Kelly Somes. Stage Managers Sue Gore and Liz Phillips. Set concept
and design Kelly Somes and Cate Clelland. Sound design Kelly Somes and Neville
Pye. Lighting design Aidan Bavinton. Costume design Kelly Somes and Cate
Clelland. Production photography Janelle Mcm,enamin and Michael Moore. Free
Rain Theatre at ACT HUB. April 16-25. Bookings ACTHUB.COM.AU
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
To see actors Lucy Goleby and
James O’Connell in Nick Payne’s Constellations at ACT HUB is to watch
two actors at the top of their game, working in perfect synchronicity. This is
ensemble acting at its very best, each actor completely attuned to their
character’s complex relationship and conflicting emotions.
Marianne (Lucy Goleby) and Roland
(James O’Connell) meet at a barbecue. She is a physicist, intelligent and
curious about the natural laws of Qantum Mechanics, String Theory and quantum
cosmology. Roland is a grounded beekeeper, a maker of honey. Both in their own
way observe the laws of Nature. Marianne proposes an hypothetical multiverse,
comprising many universes in which the natural laws pertaining to our universe
can vary within the multiverse. This is of course a philosophical notion rather
than a concept sustained by evidence. Roland’s definable universe is the
ordered society of the bee colony, comprising the hierarchy of Queen Bee,
Drones and Worker Bees.
Contrasting to a multiverse is a constellation, a recognizable pattern of stars, identified by formation or mythical figures. This too suggests a certain behavioural pattern that denies the existence of free will. Payne ingeniously uses multiple repetition of dialogue and situation with variations that could suggest parallel universes. Marianne recounts their first meeting at a barbecue, Roland at a wedding. Throughout we see the same scenario played over but from different perspectives or with different outcomes. In one episode, Marianne admits to an affair with a young office worker. In the same scenario it is Roland who has had the affair with another woman. The responses may be similar but the outcomes could be very different. As Payne’s multimoments evolve we watch the relationship develop, fracture,revive, result in marriage and finally confront the horrifying reality of Marianne’s illness.
Payne poses a universal conundrum. Do we possess free will? Are all choices predetermined by established laws? As implied in Marianne’s opening line, is it deliberate that we are designed in such a way as not to be able to lick our elbows as evidence of our inability to achieve immortality. It’s a pick up line that cannot but succeed to intrigue. Marianne’s mother has no fear of dying. She fears being kept alive. She fears the denial of free will. This presents a fascinating conjecture of scientific theory, hypothesis and definable laws of Nature.
For seventy five minutes, Constellations balances scientific theory with human emotion. It is a fascinating expression of action and reaction, determining a choice, subject to the dictates of changing circumstance. Roland’s proposal could have a very different impact at another moment in time or within a different emotional state. In Free Rain Theatre’s outstanding production, Payne’s dialogue is repeated with different responses or choices. And yet human nature remains constant. The sense of betrayal at the discovery of infidelity will be as true to Marianne as it would be to Roland in a similar circumstance. In the end Marianne chooses to exercise free will to intervene in the progression of her illness.
Director Kelly Somes has staged the production in the round with audience on four sides. Three chairs are placed at certain points on the stage. As Payne’s dialogue presents alternate realities the actors move the chairs into different positions to represent changing moods and physical relationships. Somes’ direction is purposeful and fluid, enabling an audience to follow the shifting scenarios and reactions. Director and actors create a fascinating pattern of connection and disconnection, intimacy and separation. Somes’s direction is craftily manoevured in a production that never fails to intrigue, fascinate and provoke. There is ample food for thought, concepts to wonder at and Marianne and Roland’s alternate choices to identify and recognize. Free Rain Theatre’s visiting production of Constellations is too good an opportunity to miss. Entertaining, engaging and intellectually stimulating, Somes, Goleby and O’Connell under Free Rain Theatre’s umbrella have brought to ACT HUB a production to light up Canberra's theatrical universe.
Photos by Janelle McMenamin