A beekeeper and a cosmetologist, the battle of life and love, and the outlook of existence. It may sound like a soap opera, but on May 8 and 9, Calvin was privileged to host the performance of the play “Constellations,” written by Nick Payne and directed by Calvin student Catherine Fazio.

Fazio, a senior pursuing a profession in stage management, decided to direct “Constellations” as an end of the year project for her CAS directing class.

After considering a few different plays, the uniqueness, beauty and honesty of this play continued to hold Fazio’s attention. Maia Madrid, audience member and Calvin actor and dramaturgy participant, describes this play as having a “really beautiful and poetic look at existence.”

The two main characters in “Constellations” are Roland, played by Sam Camp, and Marianne, played by Hannah Black.

Even though these are the only two characters in the show, their relationship is enough to fulfill the audience’s yearning for drama, while also displaying their true personalities.

The play reveals Roland and Marianne’s true colors by telling their story of the some of the worst times in their lives. Because of this, Madrid said, it is very hard to pick a favorite, especially since, in many ways, neither of the characters is very “likable.”

Camp, or “Roland” as his fans know him, believes the play is about “multiverse theory and the asymmetrical rigidity of time.” Camp, a junior, will be continuing his involvement with Calvin student productions, as well as some outside of the Calvin community, throughout next year.

Free will, choice, love and forgiveness are the components that make up the play. One of the reasons that “Constellations” is such a unique production is the “brash reality” of it, as described by Camp.

The audience will not see fluff in the dialogue. In order to fulfill the goals the play has of rediscovering ancient ideas of understanding the nature of conceptual origin, the play displays cultural motives that are often seen as pagan and heathen.

“It’s never sappy or patronizing, which I loved,” said Madrid. “It was just very honest, which you can really see in the scenery, which was just five ladders and a bunch of strings of lights.”

Posters talk about it, the theater company talks about it and the Lab Theater witnessed it. This unconventional love story deserves your attention, with the promise that it will blow you out of the water.

Fazio delves into her future with positive feedback under her belt, knowing that Calvin has prepared her for a future in directing.