Should the U.S. Constitution be abolished or otherwise modified? Author Heidi Schreck debated the subject when she was only 15. Her experiences across the country won her scholarship money for college. Then in 2019 she won national acclaim dramatizing What the Constitution Means to Me, repeating her debate points and also how they affected her personal and family life. Florida Studio Theater stages all in a small-town American Legion Post.
A Marine Legionnaire presides over Heidi’s address in a typical place where her audience was (not altogether unlike in Sarasota) “old white men.” All across the heavily paneled back wall are framed portraits of same as younger military vets, probably officers. The Legionnaire (a no-nonsense Kevin Loreque) authoritatively announces rules of delivery of speech about specific points in the Constitution and selective Amendments. It’s clear he will be an enforcer of allowed time and substance.
As Heidi, Amy Bodnar comes on strong, emphasizing the Constitution as a living document of principles. It’s radical, for a Nation that’s a boiling pot and must act collectively. Further Amendments deal with rights—including those not specified, various protections, reconstructions, restorations, revisions. Amy’s Heidi then heads into the center of her argument: None should be excluded from rights that directly affect them personally as well as collectively.
At each stage of consideration of each Amendment, Heidi stresses poignant stories of women, especially from her family, being excluded from rights the Constitution gives to men. The Supreme Court and other national courts and members of Congress with their upholding and making of laws get taken to task both for their treatment of women and that of people of color and those from certain unfavored countries, including (Native) America itself!
Amy Bodnar conveys deep sadness via Heidi’s accounts of repression of her family and even all U. S. women (as with lack of Roe vs. Wade protection). Her concerned blend of public, political, and personal stories gets extended to Kevin Loreque’s likeable second manifestation. He’s not just connected with the military but with another group whose Constitutional rights aren’t safe from abolition or ignoring.
To top off Heidi’s concerns there appears a 15 year-old Black woman Debater (cool Deysha Nelson). She maintains the Constitution’s not perfect but flawed like a human being, yet also able to become better. She nicely signals involving the audience.
Copies of the Constitution are quickly distributed to scan and propel reaction to Heidi’s proposal to have a new Constitution for new generations. The young Black Debater confidently joins the final discussion that’s become like one between politicians. If you want to take sides, you should be in the audience!
As usual at FST, Director Kate Alexander gets realistic, involving performances from her cast. She has also deftly choreographed the audience’s participation in the voting, if not the results. Even the ushers join the technical staff in assuring that no member of the audience will feel left out of the action.
