Jessie Fisher left a Broadway show to tell Milwaukee 'What the Constitution Means to Me'
Here's what the Constitution means to Jessie Fisher:
She took a leave of absence from her Broadway show to talk with Milwaukeeans about the foundational document of American democracy.
Fisher stars in Milwaukee Repertory Theater's new production of Heidi Schreck's "What the Constitution Means to Me," which runs through March 17 in the Stiemke Studio, a cozy space that might be smaller than some of the American Legion halls where the play is set.
As a teenager, Schreck gave speeches and debated about the Constitution to earn scholarship money for college. In the play, the adult Heidi relives some of those experiences, and also relates the document to her life as a woman, pointing out where it has failed to protect her and her ancestors.
During the housebound period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fisher watched the video of Shreck's performance on Prime Video. "I thought it was so surprisingly funny and beautiful and poignant," Fisher said.
She immediately thought, "if there's ever the opportunity for me to be part of this show, I will jump at that."
Fisher performed here in 2017 in the one-actor drama "Grounded." The Rep's new "Constitution" reunites her with director Laura Braza, who also helmed "Grounded." Prior to arriving here for "Constitution," Fisher was performing in the Broadway production of "A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical." She also played Delphi Diggory for the first year of the Broadway production of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
In telling one woman's personal story, "What the Constitution Means to Me" wades into some of the most contentious constitutional subjects of our time, including abortion. Doing the show in a purple state like Wisconsin is different from doing it in New York City, Fisher said.
Experiencing Schreck's character, seeing the Constitution as both a 15-year-old and as an adult woman who's lived a full life, is "an exciting way to actually be in dialogue with this document that informs so many of the choices that affect us," Fisher said.
Civics nerds will be pleased to learn that "Constitution" plumbs some important legal and philosophical points, such as Justice William O. Douglas' concept of "penumbras" in connection with the Ninth Amendment, and negative-rights documents vs. positive-rights ones.
But there are also powerful personal stories of people who were not protected by the Constitution.
"What the Constitution Means to Me" erases the typical fourth wall that separates performer from audience, Fisher said.
That is truest in the play's final segment, when Fisher's character debates a local teenager over the continued existence of the Constitution itself: Should we keep it or create a new one?
Maya O'Day-Biddle, Maria (Rose) Campbell and Hazel Dye alternate as the teenager who will debate Fisher.
In a thrilling bit of theatricality, a coin flip at each performance will determine which side of the question Fisher takes, and which side is represented by the teen. So everyone has to be prepared to argue both points of view.
The teen debater will choose a member of the audience to judge the winner of the debate.
The teen actors have been involved with the production from the beginning, Fisher said. Listening to their stories and conversations during the rehearsal period, Fisher has concluded "they are so much smarter than I was when I was their age."
If you go
Milwaukee Repertory Theater performs "What the Constitution Means to Me" Feb. 6 through March 17 at the Stiemke Studio, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets, visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Rep's 'What Constitution Means to Me' makes debate personal
