Broadway Review: Constellations with Jake Gyllenhaal

The Laws of Physics, Relationships May Not Be What They Seem
By Lauren Yarger
The Broadway sensation sparking some of biggest conversation this season is a tiny little play by Nick  Payne called Constellations.

Clocking in at just over an hour, the production presented by Manhattan Theatre Club and the Royal Court Theatre, where the play first appeared,  features riveting performances by film star Jake Gyllenhaal (“Nightcrawler,” “Brokeback Mountain”) in his Broadway debut and  two-time Olivier Award winner Ruth Wilson (TV’s “The Affair,”  “Luther”).

Set on a black stage, dressed by white balloons (designed by Tom Scutt and sharply lighted by Lee Curran), Constellations tells the story, sometimes in real time, sometimes in the past and sometimes in alternative realities, of a beekeeper  named Roland (Gyllenhaal) and Marianne (Wilson), a quantum physicist.

Under the direction of Michael Longhurst,  another science – chemistry – takes stage as well as the actors work in sync to bring the characters’ relationship and a unique parallel universe to life. In fact, we probably are seeing stars in the form of Tony Awards nominations here.  The performances are stellar, with atmosphere and body language turned into a sort of choreography helmed by Movement Director Lucy Cullingford (enhanced by original music composed by Simon Slater).

We are enraptured from their first date at a barbecue. They start a conversation that leads to a relationship – or doesn’t -- depending on what is said and how much they are willing to risk. It’s “what if” and “what could have been” mixed with “what is”  and “what has to be” in a delectable symphony of unending possibilities – or predetermined destiny -- in short scenes representing the split-second decisions that make up our lives.

Different scenarios contain the same dialogue, but are delivered with different intonation altering the outcome.  Shifts between scenes and realities are sharp and easy to follow (even if the meaning some times isn’t).

Will Marianne survive an illness? Is there some way it could have been avoided? Just how much do free will and faith factor into anything we do or is it all written in the stars? To give many more details would be to take away from the experience. These and other interesting questions keep us riveted, even if we don’t follow all of the scientific theories explored.

In the end it’s hard to believe that so much thought-provoking drama could be crammed into just 70 minutes. That satisfied feeling is important, of course, since ticket prices top out at $145. At the final curtain, or should I say balloon fall, you can’t help but feel like you have just witnessed a unique and important piece of theater.

Constellations plays through March 15 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th St., NYC. Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 pm; Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets $67-$145; http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/.