The More Things Change

What the Constitution Means to Me

The Copley Theatre is Paramount’s smaller, more intimate venue. Each season they present a series of plays and musicals that are more modest in cast size and scenic requirements than its larger parent company, just across the street. But the intimacy of this theatre works beautifully to its advantage, especially with a play like this. The familiar theme that “the more things change, the more they stay the same” hits every audience member with its contemporary immediacy. Paramount, in short, has another huge hit on its hands.

The title of this play could be off-putting or misleading to some theatergoers. While it succinctly incapsulates what the play is about, it sounds like it might be erudite, preachy and painfully dull. But I promise you: this 90-minute visit with both the playwright, as well as the actress who plays her, is electrifying, edifying and entertaining. It is never, ever boring. 

Cory Goodrich, known to Chicago audiences as one of our most gifted and talented musical theatre actors, demonstrates a solid talent as a dramatic actress. She impeccably portrays Heidi Schreck, sharing that Heidi, as a fifteen-year-old girl, discovered that she loved the ideas and language found in our country’s Constitution. Without any physical transformation, the skilled actress asks us to imagine the playwright at this time of her life. A supportive mother by her side, Heidi toured American Legion and VFW Halls all over the state, earning enough prize money to fund her college education by giving speeches and debating other teenagers about the Constitution.

So much information is discussed and explained in this play that, for our reference, a pocket-size copy of the Constitution is distributed to each audience member. Heidi’s main point is that the Constitution doesn’t protect every American, simply because it wasn’t created to do so. She maintains that the document was concerned only with the rights of white men. The liberties of many US citizens are ignored, especially women and minorities. And guess what? While the years have passed and times have changed, everything is still the same!

Heidi discusses most of the document in general, but she especially focuses on the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. She illustrates with dozens of events from her own past, including incidents from the lives of her mother, grandmother and great-great-grandmother. In citing how domestic abuse, sexual assault, abortion and immigration injustices were and continue to still be part of American lives, particularly for women and people of color, Ms. Schreck makes the omissions from the Constitution much more personal and relevant to us. She continually points out that the document was drawn up by old white men over three-hundred years ago. But, as we reflect upon this fact, we realize that, thanks to certain conservative politicians, nothing has really changed in this country.

Cory Goodrich makes the play feel like an impromptu performance. It’s as though this gifted actress is improvising much of what she presents, creating her arguments and points of contention on the spot, as she goes along. But this is the beauty of the production. Ms. Goodrich portrays Heidi Schreck as a knowledgable scholar as well as a gifted storyteller. She’s especially comfortable breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to her audience. While a great deal of information is imparted, a large amount of personal pathos comes forth.

But there’s also plenty of humor. Both Cory and Kevin McKillip, who deftly portrays both the American Legionnaire officiating the debates, as well as himself, deliver their dialogue with comic ease. Masters of body language and subtle facial expression, both actors mine some of the funniest moments from the script. 

Talented director Lauren Berman must be highly commended for her work with this talented cast. While the National Tour was interesting and fun, this more intimate production is filled with energy and practically crackles with electricity. All of this is thanks to Ms. Berman’s brilliant direction, as well as a great cast. The set, nicely designed by Angela Weber Miller, represents Heidi’s memory of all the venues where she spoke. The American Legion Hall is lined with wooden paneling upon which hang the portraits of dozens of men who’ve served their country. Appropriate illumination was designed by Jessica Neill and Caitlin McLeod has designed costumes that feel right for these characters.  

Two bright, eloquent high school teenagers also play themselves, rotating in the role of Heidi’s debate opponent for the last portion of the play. Opening night saw talented young Lilly Fujioka, a theatre student from Stevenson High School, in the role of the Debater. Vivian Webb, an honor student at Metea Valley High School, plays the Debater in alternate performances.

Heidi Schreck calls the Constitution a “warm-blooded, steamy document that’s hot and sweaty.” What she means is that the Constitution is a living, breathing work that’s continually being analyzed, re-evaluated and changed. The Amendment process allows for periodic updates of the document, which is one of our Constitution’s greatest strengths. And, as this play argues, despite it’s shortcomings in dealing with the equality of women, persons of color, immigrants and the LGBT community, the United States Constitution is the basic framework of our nation. For all of its shortcomings, it must respected for all its inherent good.   

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 12-November 12 by Paramount Theatre at the Copley Theatre, 8 East Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 630-896-6666, or by going to www.paramountaurora.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.