Jessica Robblee captivates in a deeply personal journey through the Constitution
Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s (BETC) regional premiere of Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me is a poignant, intimate and timely exploration of the U.S. Constitution.
Directed by Allison Watrous and starring the electric Jessica Robblee, this play — hailed as a critical darling on Broadway — invites the audience into a rich dialogue with America’s most debated document. It is a deeply personal and thought-provoking story that explores the impact of the U.S. Constitution on four generations of women in Schreck’s family.
Set designer Tina Anderson creates a convincing American Legion Hall where Schreck used to participate in debates about the document to win prize money for college. Although Anderson’s design significantly limits The Savoy’s playing space, it serves the intimacy the script demands perfectly and allows Robblee to engage directly with the audience.
Robblee’s portrayal of Schreck is both heartfelt and commanding, blending humor and sincerity to navigate her character’s complex emotions tied to the Constitution. Her performance is a demanding journey of intellect and emotion, effectively bridging her adolescent enthusiasm for the “steamy document” with a mature critique of its relevance and limitations.
Rodney Lizcano delivers “positive male energy” as the Legionnaire, offering comic relief and revealing insights with equal skill. His reflections on masculinity and its broader societal impacts add another layer to the play’s exploration of American identity. This is particularly evidnt during his moving monologue when he stops pretending to be a character in the Legion Hall to share his life story.
Rodney Lizcano | Photo: Michael Ensminger Photography
Perhaps best known in her role as the Denver Center’s education director, Watrous’ directorial vision shines through in her meticulous attention to the play’s pacing and tone. Her intimate blocking evokes a stand-up routine and focuses attention on Robblee’s storytelling prowess. Watrous masterfully navigates the script’s demands, balancing humor with dramatic revelations and ensuring the audience remains engaged throughout the performance.
The show’s structure — a mix of memoir, debate and direct address — challenges the audience to consider their relationship with the document. What the Constitution Means to Me unfolds as a series of vignettes from Schreck’s past. Her emotional and inspiring journey is punctuated by moments of levity and audience participation, including a debate.
This segment, featuring Mariam Faal as the high school debater, is engaging, if a bit rehearsed. But it successfully underscores the play’s interactive nature. Be sure to pay close attention, as one audience member will be asked to choose the winner of the debate. It is not very democratic, but then again, neither is America.
Technical elements — such as Colin Young’s lighting design and Jason Ducat’s sound engineering — enhance the storytelling and are deftly integrated into the narrative. Gini Mennenga’s props add to the world-building of the competitive atmosphere at American Legion speech contests.
What the Constitution Means to Me is a civic reflection that feels even more urgent today than at its inception. BETC’s production not only honors Schreck’s original work but also amplifies its call for engagement and reflection on what the Constitution truly means to us as individuals and as a nation.
Whether you’re revisiting the play or experiencing its layers for the first time, BETC offers an impactful evening that resonates with our current political climate. It’s a timely reminder of the ongoing dialogue between past and present that defines the American experience.
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