An interesting tale linking a scientific icon and Greek mythology
Biography of a Constellation, directed by Paloma Sierra is one of six productions that make up LAMDA’s Greenhouse Festival, an event at Orange Tree Theatre which showcases the work of LAMDA’s graduating MA students.
Written by Lila Rose Kaplin, Biography of a Constellation is a feminist tale that spans space and time, and delves into a world of mythology. The play celebrates the life of American astronomer Annie Jump Cannon (Grace Willis), combining her story with that of Andromeda (Phoenix Edwards) and Perseus (Roy Mas), as well as a down-on-her-luck planetarium worker (Kathleen Irvine).
An elderly Cannon has been working in the Archives for an incredibly long time, with no sign of leaving. She is steadfast in her work, and committed to checking in on Andromeda. She begrudges the classic Greek myth which centres around yet another woman trapped and wronged. Andromeda is a budding astronomer herself, fascinated by the stars. In the original tale, Andromeda is chained to a rock as a punishment to her mother, the Queen Cassiopeia, who has angered the gods by claiming she is more beautiful than them. In this story it seems to be a marriage plot gone wrong – Andromeda is trapped, chained to the rock and bound to be eaten by a sea monster, until she is rescued by the hero Perseus. Perseus, in Kaplin’s retelling, doesn’t want to be a hero, but rather wants to be a painter, eager to capture Andromeda in her glistening chains. Andromeda is keen to avoid marriage, and the two broker a deal – Perseus frees her from the rock and places her among the stars. The two develop an interesting companionship, which we return to at moments throughout the play.
News has reached Cannon that she is supposedly dead, and in order to ensure she has an appropriate eulogy, she reaches out to her grandson, Gregory, a Harvard professor, inviting him to the archives to examine her journals and works. It’s an unusual choice, as in reality Cannon had no children, but setting this aside the story is interesting and heartfelt. We glimpse moments from the past, a young Gregory practises his scales on the cello (skilfully synced with sound cues – sound design by Summer Collier and music by Abhinav Mishra). He stargazes with his grandmother. We see him grow up, becoming a serious Harvard professor.
Alongside this action, another story unfolds. The planetarium staff member doubles up as our narrator, explaining the events and providing insight into the science. Irvine is humorously self-deprecating in this role, handling the comedy well, and relating to the audience, eliciting ripples of laughter.
Mas brings all the energy to their performance. A tragically misunderstood artist, their Perseus flits between gentleness and chaos – Mas leans into the comedy well. As the young Gregory, Mas is vibrant and playful, and the weight of responsibility and adulthood is palpable as Gregory ages throughout the piece.
Willis doubles up as Cannon and Queen Cassiopeia. Her Cassiopeia is stern, formidable, her stature regal. Willis’ physicality and vocality are particularly impressive – the attention to detail as Cannon ages was impeccable.
Edwards is a striking Andromeda. The passion which she brings to her scientific work is infectious, making it all the more frustrating when she becomes trapped.
The play itself becomes a tad confusing at times, jumping between stories and time lines, criss-crossing characters. It’s an interesting one, yet a little hard to follow. That said, performances across the board were on point. Costume and set design by Jana Lakatos must also be noted – that rock cape in particular was a fantastic piece.
Though the Greenhouse Festival has finished, it’s worth keeping an eye on the creatives involved in this piece, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for each of them.