Cleveland Play House’s “What The Constitution Means To Me” is well worth seeing

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization to focus on service to veterans, service members and communities. Membership currently stands at over 1.6 million in more than 12,000 posts worldwide.

Since its inception, the Legion has worked to bring forth hundreds of benefits and services to veterans and has been a supporting arm of the U.S. Armed Forces. During its time as an organization the Legion has hosted The American Legion Baseball World Series, filed law suits against the federal government for failure to conduct studies on the effects of Agent Orange veteran victims who served in Vietnam, donated $1,000,000 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall), have p.t.s.d. (post-traumatic stress disorder) recognized as a psychological ailment, began a National Emergency Fund to help victims of Hurricanes, began a Halloween safety program for children, worked tirelessly during COVID by establishing “Buddy Check” activities for older veterans, numerous blood drives, food delivery services, supplies for parents having to home school for the first time and produced and distributed masks when they were in short supply. The motto of the American Legion is “Veterans, Defense, Youth, Americanism, Communities” and they live up to these standards.

In 1938, the Legion began holding high school debates across the country focusing on the subject, “What The Constitution Means To Me” that led to State Championship debates as well as a National Champion Debate.

In the 80s, 15 year old future college student, playwright and actor Heidi Schreck would travel from state to state participating in various American Legion sponsored debates titled “What The Constitution Means To Me’. The money she won later enabled her to attend a state college.

In her debates Heidi (Maggie Lacey) points out the flaws inherent to the Constitution of the United States of America especially in regards to the well being of women, minority groups, American Indians and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. She tells of four generations of females in her family who suffered abuse at the hands of their husbands. This abuse dated all the way back to her “purchased bride” German born great grandmother who died at age 36 in a mental institution from melancholia in Washington State to her mother’s family that resulted in the prosecution of her step grandfather who was sentenced to 36 years and served two.

Moderating the debates is a Legionnaire (Donald Carrier) who attempts to keep a firm hand on the clock but with little effect. Heidi is determined to have her say and no time limit is going to stop her.

Halfway through the 90 minute (no intermission) show of reminisce the fourth wall is suddenly removed with the Legionnaire becoming Danny who was very supporting of Heidi’s quest of scholarship money. He also tells of growing up in a male dominated society where failure made one “less than a man”. They then introduce Taya Offutt Decker who is a local sophomore at Laurel School and a debate between the two females ensues as to whether to keep the Constitution and make changes as needed or to scrap it altogether and start over. The audience is encouraged to verbally participate during the debate and afterwards a winner of the debate is declared.

The stage set by Raul Abrego is a star in its own right with a typical legion hall stage filled with various knickknacks, banners and photos one would find at any current legion hall. The show is smartly directed by Linsay Firman who keeps the pacing fast and furious. Costumes by Angelina Herin fit the time period and subject. Sound by Derek A. Graham and lighting by Alberto Segarra is extremely well done as well. As for the actors, they are superb. Their roles take the show past just a simple high school age debate and delves into subject matter that most Americans are not aware of but need to be.

One refreshing aspect of the show is that it does not veer into current political situations with a major election in just the next few weeks. It is a show about The Constitution of the United States of America and one fifteen year old girls thoughts on that and how if affected her life personally.

At first blush this show appears to be rather pedestrian but the quality of writing, acting and stage setting make it an intriguing production to view. Sometimes we go to the theater to be educated and this is such a time. Buy a ticket.

The Cleveland Play house production of “What The Constitution Means To Me” will be on stage in the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square through November 3, 2024. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com or call (216) 400-7096.