As I write this, the Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings are winding down. Described as “unashamedly pro-life” and a self-proclaimed constitutional originalist, she will most likely take the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s place on the Supreme Court. It’s a stressful time, to be sure — I know I’m not the only one who has experienced a constant, low-thrum rage ever since Barrett’s nomination was announced — but also the perfect one to see “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
With affection, humor, and anger, Heidi Schreck’s award-winning play deftly unpacks the U.S. Constitution’s merits, but also makes the case that, as a document created by rich white men, it overwhelmingly caters to rich white men. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, the poor — this much-revered text could not give less of a fuck about them.
If you couldn’t catch “What the Constitution Means to Me” on Broadway, or just want to revisit it, a filmed version directed by Marielle Heller is now available on Amazon Prime. As Barrett’s confirmation and the election draw nearer, I highly recommend watching it, whether you’re craving entertainment, education, or catharsis.
When Schreck was a teenager, she would participate in American Legion debate contests to earn college scholarship money, arguing about the merits of the Constitution and connecting its tenets to her life. As she grew up, experienced more, and started learning about her family history, Schreck began to realize that the Constitution she idolized is not exactly all it’s cracked up to be. And, more often than not, old white dudes — cough, the Supreme Court, cough — are called upon to decide what is and what is not constitutional. Ergo, they decide what our country should be, for everyone. Nine men ruled on the fate of birth control, Schreck reminds us with an exasperated laugh. Four of them were cheating on their wives at the time.
Lest you worry that “What the Constitution Means to Me” only features white feminist concerns, Schreck repeatedly checks her own privilege throughout the play and shares her spotlight. I don’t want to spoil anything, but two of the show’s best moments see young women of color — fellow alumnae of the American Legion contests — and Mike Iveson, who portrays the debate moderator/judge, also taking the opportunity to explain what the Constitution means to them.
Things are coming apart at the seams in the U.S. right now, and most days I wish we could burn down the whole system and start over. Thanks to “What the Constitution Means to Me,” I better understand why that is, and isn’t, a good idea.
“What the Constitution Means to Me” is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
