Review: Constellations; Staring Ruth Wilson and Jake Gyllenhaal

“Constellations,” an hour ten minute long one act play by Nick Payne is previewing before its short run at the Samuel J.Friedman Theatre as a feature subsidized of the Manhattan Theatre Club. The two actor play stars Ruth Wilson (who’s in “The Affair” on Showtime) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Academy Award Nominated actor of Brokeback Mountain.)

Directed by Michael Longhurst and Stage Directed by Brian Bogin, the play has run in England and is on a thirteen week run in New York.

The essence of the drama is the interaction of two lovers/friends in the modern world of dual career dependency.Because of its British origins both actors speak with British accents. Ruth Wilson, who is British disguises her accent on the Affair, so in Constellations she perhaps is able to free up a touch. The play writing technique by Nick Payne creates a staccato effect with variation of versions repeated as if a writer was choosing which ones to use, but also perhaps happening in parallel universes. The versions of the same short scenes/lines are separated by lighting effects done/created perhaps by the skills of both Lee Curran and Brian Bogin.

Scoring the actors efforts only for the sake of reviewing Ruth Wilson perhaps gives the stronger performance based on the energy of her role as Marianne, a physicist. The playwright perhaps created her character to be the protagonist and Jake Gyllenhaal’s character Roland, who is a Bee keeper, plays off the power of Ms. Wilson’s portrayal of Marianne. Both characters display the insecurities of todays career dating and the complications created by the new modern life.

Ruth Wilson delivers a credible, enthusiastic, and athletic performance as Marianne where as Jake Gyllenhaal as Roland, may be more restrained by Mr. Payne’s writing therefore seems more stoic. The staging is well enough that all delivered lines are heard and even though there is no intermission. However, with just the two actors on stage for the whole production the actors had my full attention and concentration. Constellations is where modern theater is going with a classic touch of where it once was.