What if two people could redo important moments in their lives like when they first meet or break up or stay together and support one another when illness strikes?
That is the question asked in Penobscot Theatre Company’s latest production, “Constellations.” It is a technically brilliant show that lights up the Bangor Opera House like the stars shining on a clear winter night even though few sparks fly between local actor Dominick Varney and his Chicago-based costar Emjoy Gavino.
Written by English playwright Nick Payne, the one-act premiered in London in 2012 and moved to Broadway three years later. Since then, it has been performed all over the world.
The play’s non-linear structure is described in the program as being “reflective of [Payne’s] understanding of the multiverse. … We see the characters shift seamlessly between different universes, different realities, where a new version of the story is told.”
Roland (Varney), a beekeeper, and Marianne (Gavino), a physicist, meet by chance in London in the opening scene. Their relationship proceeds and ends and begins again in fits and starts – some sweet, some sad, some funny with one scene performed using American Sign Language rather than words.
The two actors work well together with Varney providing much of the comedy by varying his delivery in scenes with similar dialogue. Gavino is especially good in scenes related to Marianne’s illness as she weighs treatment options. But there is so little romantic chemistry between them that it’s hard to pin down what attracts these two characters to each other.
Director Jerrel L. Henderson, based in Chicago, uses the large Opera House stage well, and the characters never look lost thanks in large part to set designer Chelsea M. Warren’s use of silver rope, tautly strung behind the actors that criss-crosses the stage. That is a visualization of the scientific concept of string theory that is a plot point.
But that rope also acts as a wall that pushes Varney and Gavino downstage and close to the audience on a series of platforms. Lighting designer DeAnna Doggett of Philadelphia, sound designer L.J. Luthringer of Chicago and projection designer Arturo Camacho of Maine flood the stage with light and sound that sets the mood for the multiple situations Roland and Marianne find themselves navigating and creates a mesmerizing atmosphere.
“Constellations” often feels like an acting exercise where students are asked to improvise a scene, then do it again with a few changes and different inflections. The contrast between these short scenes is what provides the show with much of its comedy, but the dialogue at times is so repetitive that theatergoers may want to stand up and shout at the actors, “Move on, already!”
“Constellations” will be performed through Feb. 11 at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. For information, visit penobscottheatre.org or call 207-942-3333.
