Constellations By Queensland Theatre Company

Constellations, an absurdist and post-modernist performance by Queensland Theatre Company, perceptively explored what the play’s title suggests; a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern. More plainly, though, it revealed that fate will prevail. This was evident through characters Marianne and Roland, in which their conflicting relationship and predicaments were reflected through the exploration and connection of many alternate universes that each led to the same destiny; where, conjunctively, the entire production encompassed the ideal that “we have the time we’ve always had. There’s not going to be any more or less of it.” As such, roles and relationships, time, tension, movement and symbols were prevalent elements that constituted
The roles underpinning characters Marianne and Roland were the basis for defining this concept. Roland was easily a man who believed that the world screams possibility; that formulating certain decisions will affect your future and what it holds. Marianne, however, explored the theory of different universes existing simultaneously, with their connection resulting in a particular destiny. Her persona was debatably quite dominant, in which her beliefs regarding fate overrode that of Roland’s. In one scene, for example, as Roland was about to ‘make a move’, she began discussing quantum physics. Expressing her views with such an assertive and repetitive tone, during such an inconvenient occasion, demonstrated that she held a dominant identity; in which her beliefs, too, were superior to that of Roland’s. Hence, this particular scene revealed that Marianne’s dominant perspective solidified the play’s concept that any possible event will have a predetermined outcome. From this, Roland and Marianne’s personalities formed a definite segue into their relationship depicted within the production. Within each universe, a particular scenario was repeated, and their relationship was pictured in a different light each time. However, in each of these instances,
Travelling from one time period to another, it was evident that the storyline of Constellations was non-linear. However, by returning to the final scene in each universe, this ironically delved into Roland and Marianne’s relationship and formulated an intricate understanding of ‘fate’; signifying that all universes are interconnected with each other and result in the same destiny. For example, the beginning of the play saw Marianne and Roland meet at a barbeque and was completely tension filled. Roland’s accent at this point was well defined, and his awkward tone being somewhat awkward. Marianne, too, reacted uncomfortably while conversing with Roland. With the use of lighting, the scene then transitioned to another point in time. Marianne and Roland were much closer to one another, and a sense of tension immediately arose once again. However, this tension was in an alternative form; based upon the circumstance rather than the relationship. Roland’s accent was not as prominent, and their conversation felt as though their love for one another was plentiful in experience. Roland was attempting to comfort Marianne, but she was restless and vulnerable. By incorporating two vastly divergent scenes from two separate time periods, this depicted Marianne and Roland’s relationship as confusing (at this