Immerse Yourself In the Soul-Expanding Experience that is Constellations

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What was the last decision that you have taken for granted? As simple as what that could have been, maybe, just maybe, that extra five minutes you took before getting out of bed, that playlist choice for your morning ride, or the restaurant you chose your lunch, maybe one of those could have significantly altered the coming days, months, years.
Constellations is a play written by Nick Payne that explores the infinite multiverse. Two people meet and you are presented with multiple flavors of loving, hurting, breaking down, affliction, clarity, uncertainties. Scenes from the lives of Roland and Marianne, brilliantly played by JC Santos and Cris Villonco, play and replay with variations of what could have beens. In one variation, Marianne could be bitchy, in the other Roland could have coy, in yet another Marianne appeared to be shy, Roland a bit apprehensive.
The excellence of Rem Zamora's directing shine in how flawless the "life snippets" transitioned even as the audience is challenged to either piece each one, create multiple timelines in their heads, or just enjoy each scene as they come, knowing that eventually they will all make sense. In case that you do try to make sense of everything, John Batalla's wonderful lighting would give clues on which ones could have connected. There is much excellence in Teresa Barrozo's sound design as always. Entering the theater, the sound and set transport you into a state of being an observer, it gives a feel of being a distant god watching two lives unfold. Credit goes to Ed Lacson, Jr. for Set Design and Marta Lovina for Production Design.
During the Press Preview Q&A
The play efficiently rips you apart. Remember that round in Crystal Maze where the player has to get gold pieces of paper and refrain from collecting silver ones? It is a lovable kind of confusion that you know will make sense in the end. As you see more of the bigger pictures, you will be left with no choice but to settle in that timeline that you chose to hang on to. Or maybe you chose to not connect them and just see scenes as they are. In whatever way you experience the play, you end up with a stretched and enriched soul.
Constellations opens February 12. Tickets are available out TicketWorld.
Just search for Red Turnip Theater on Facebook for more details.

Photos: Red Turnip Theater

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