Nick Payne’s internationally acclaimed Constellations graces the Billie Brown Theatre from the 9^th March till the 9^th of April. Popular-television and theatre actress Jessica Tovey plays the engaging and hilarious quantum-physicist Marianne. Marianne is ‘star crossed’ with humble bee-keeper Roland, performed by stage-regular Lucas Stibbard. The production does not follow a traditional end-to-end storyline, the rhythm of the play is fragmented and adapts Payne’s interest in quantum physics and the uncertainties, probabilities, and repetitions therein to fate and choice.  

Throughout the play scenes are repeated and reimagined, allowing for different perceptions and alternate realities to be exhibited. The intersection of the scenes allows for the characters to build a sense of intimacy, whilst keeping the audience somewhat sheltered from the grim realities of mortality that are later highlighted. Payne uses disruption and repetition of scenes as a tool to communicate the frustrations of terminal illness.

The performance capabilities of Tovey and Stibbard are exemplified by their ability to add new dimensions to the lines shared between scenes. With each scene the power shift between the characters can be visibly charted as their positioning is rotated between the peaks and depths of the stage.  Anthony Spinaze’s set design references the stars and physics, therefore creating an aesthetic symmetry to the play.

Constellations aptitude in telling a multifaceted story, encourages the audience to identify with the characters on varying levels. Therefore, as the audience witnesses Marianne and Roland stumble as they try to ascertain meaning in the experience of death, the experience is shared despite the diversified histories of the viewers. Constellations encourages the audience to find the interconnection between the sciences and the arts, as well as the constellation between knowledge and choice.

Constellations is being presented by the Queensland Theatre in partnership with World Science Festival Brisbane, which will run from the 22^nd to the 26^th of March. Constellations will show until 9^th of April.

 Elizabeth Ralph