Word of mouth on this show during previews was pretty negative, so I went in with low expectations; however, I was excited nonetheless to see the show. My thoughts on leaving: it was a good show. Not the best play I have ever seen, but no where near the worst. It was a very intelligently constructed 70 minute love story that was always interesting. The acting is superb! Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson are well directed by both the show's director and movement coach to let the audience really experience and know the different iterations of themselves in the different versions of the universe. Yes, the plot is a string theory plot, and that is a bit gimmicky in the long run. But, to the play's benefit, it allows us to see a love story where different choices and different answers can be explored. Sometimes it's quite hysterical. Other times it is tinged with sorrow or bitterness. However, for me, this is where the play experiences a great weakness. Because we get to know so many different versions of these characters, I personally wasn't as emotionally invested in their story as I would have been in a more traditional telling of this tale. Yet, I really am happy I saw it and that the playwright and Manhattan Theater Company are taking these risks. The set design is really ugly upon first seeing it, but once the lights are in full effect, it is quite effective. The lighting and sound design are absolutely brilliant. And, I cannot express enough how smartly acted the show is. Ruth Wilson does a great job with her character's changing cognitive and physiological being. They both do excellent jobs exploring how subtle nuances in the way we deliver a sentence can change the whole meaning of a situation. I don't foresee this one being a Tony contender, but it is definitely well worth seeing. Just be warned, it's not some sugary confection that can be ingested after a heavy dinner and cocktails. To get the most out of this show, you need to bring a fully functioning brain and use it to keep up with the switches from universe to universe and from past to present to future and what not. Essentially this is a love story built for fans of dynamic acting and thought provoking material.
MTC also rarely has shows that are as well-received as this one. Last I remember was Casa Valentina and Venus in Fur, which both received extensions. Constellations is currently on sale until the end of February… I don't think Airline Highway will need the entire month of March to move-in after Constellations moves out. But I guess we'll see… one can hope! Updated On: 1/14/15 at 11:06 AM