Front Row Review: ‘What The Constitution Means to Me’ Re-Examined
FRONT ROW REVIEW
January 13, 2025
6th Street Playhouse presents Heidi Schreck’s “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a fast-paced, 90-minute, profoundly personal and political play that challenges us to reconsider the relevance of the U.S. Constitution. Can this centuries-old document evolve beyond its ingrained gender and racial biases? Is it able to address those deeply rooted issues facing women and marginalized people today?
Schreck draws inspiration from her teenage experience debating constitutional topics across the country. At fifteen, she funded her college education by delivering speeches about the Constitution. In her play, Schreck revisits her younger self, tracing how the unamended document has affected the lives of women. “What the Constitution Means to Me” premiered at the Helen Hayes Theatre in New York City in 2018. It earning numerous awards, including an Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and a Tony Award nomination for Best Play in 2019.
Scenic Designer Andrew Patton’s debate stage perfectly portrays the drab atmosphere that accompanies a small Legionnaire’s Hall. With chairs on either end, a dais stands in the middle for presentations.
As a background scene, it enhances the focus on dynamic Sandra Ish’s witty, incisive, and dramatic portrayal of Heidi Schreck. She grabs the audience attention and holds on through the final surprising event. Not a dull moment in this play.