Ed Limb and Ella DuffyGabriel Agranoff

“A physicist and a beekeeper walk into a multiverse…” I couldn’t think of a better way to explain Constellations, which follows Roland (Ed Limb) and Marianne (Ella Duffy) through innumerable scenes spread across parallel universes (a point thankfully explained at one stage by physicist Marianne). Key moments are repeated with subtle differences: they meet multiple times, their first date has numerous endings, and reunions conclude in varying degrees of awkwardness. Flitting back and forth between an upsetting future and an unclear present starts off slightly confusing but is soon entirely engrossing, any repetitiveness made humorous rather than tedious. The non-linear plot inspired by quantum physics might seem impenetrable but on stage this is certainly not the case.

This is an astonishing play from Nick Payne, brought to the ADC for the first time this week. A stripped back affair, the stage was bare except for three crates and a piano. Each scene is given independence and vibrancy with subtle but effective changes in lighting, the overall design being a remarkable achievement. Music from pianist and composer Toby Marlow was evocative, clever, and impressive, several themes repeating themselves throughout and giving the performance a wonderful coherence.

The two actors were equally incredible. The range of emotions that they both achieved was remarkable: they effortlessly switched from anger and exaltation to grief and depression. Although there were only two characters, each was seemingly refracted through a prism, with dominant characteristics and emotions brought out for each different situation. On occasion, this felt slightly caricatured but that was understandable as they managed both the extreme awkwardness and the wonderful tenderness that formed the core of the performance.

Repetitive passages in the script, where the same lines were reworked with different emphases, were brought to life with subtlety and humour; I learnt a lot about bees from one such scene but this came across as endearing and sweet, coaxing large laughs and cleverly breaking the fourth wall with interactions between Roland and the pianist. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending scenes are heartbreaking, delicately balancing anger and sadness with the scales tipping back and forth across different multiverses. 

Only one fault stuck out for me: the eternal youthfulness of both characters. Despite long passages of time elapsing and the effects of this being key to the plot, both seemed as young at the end as they did at the beginning.

That said, this play is fantastic. For the cost of just six pounds and an hour of your life, this is worth every penny and every second. Easily one of the best things I’ve seen in Cambridge, Constellations is set to become a modern classic and seeing it brought to life with such care and attention at the ADC is wonderful. Not many two-person shows are as captivating, funny and moving as this one: a true gem.