What the Constitution Means to Me offers a vulnerable examination of the founding document’s shortcomings

Jennifer Westfeldt performing // Courtesy of Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Critically acclaimed play, What the Constitution Means to Me debuted Oct 27 at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Written by Heidi Schreck and directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, the coming-of-age production carefully examines the shortcomings of the Constitution while interweaving stories from Heidi’s personal life.

What the Constitution Means to Me was inspired by a formative time in Schreck’s life when she traveled the country competing in Constitutional debates to win prize money, a scheme by her mother, which eventually helped pay for Schreck’s entire college education. 

The play is set in an American Legion Hall adorned with portraits of war veterans, where for a majority of the play, Heidi (Jennifer Westfeldt) reenacts a Constitutional debate as her 15-year-old self while a legionnaire (TJ Lancaster) acts as the moderator. The audience also plays an integral role, asked by Heidi to turn into old white men and act as the debate judges for the evening.  

Centered around the 9th and 14th amendments, the debate rounds shine a light on the shortcomings of the founding document. We learn that women and reproductive rights aren’t mentioned in the Constitution at all and that it has failed to protect the lives of those in marginalized communities.

Throughout the play, Heidi shifts between her 15-year-old and present-day selves, showing the stark contrast between the excitement in her youth and critically analyzing the document in her adulthood. It’s fascinating to see the dynamic evolution of Heidi’s character. With each personal story shared, we see her once zealous love for the Constitution slowly begin to fade as she takes inventory of the ways it advocates for the women in her life, including her great-great grandmother who was an immigrant and died from melancholia at the age of 36.

Westfeldt does a phenomenal job portraying Heidi as she comes to these harsh realizations while offering much needed comedic relief throughout.

Near the end of the play, Lancaster shifts gears and portrays Mike, sharing his experiences about growing up gay and how the Constitution has impacted his own masculinity.

The play ends with an interactive debate segment where Jennifer Westfeldt as herself and a debater (Christina Short and Mia Cabrera) argue if the Constitution should be abolished. The power of democracy is on full display here as the audience gets to decide the final verdict.

The show is thought provoking and challenging, encouraging audience members to examine the Constitution for themselves in light of a better future.

The show runs through November 12 and tickets can be purchased here.

(from left to right) TJ Lancaster, Christina Short, and Jennifer Westfeldt performing // Courtesy of Kansas City Repertory Theatre