Jonah Patel
What the Constitution Greens to Me is the 12th episode of the first season of the TV series All Rise, which aired on January 6, 2020. The episode follows Judge Lola Carmichael, who, after her battle with the Commission of Judicial Performance, questions her brand of creative justice. The episode's title is a variation of the play What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck. The cast of this episode includes Peter MacNicol as Judge Albert Campbell, Amy Quinn, Vic Callan, Wanda Taylor, Niles Allen, Jeremy Moore, Ed Parker, and Dr. Timothy Gibson.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Episode Number | 1x12 |
| Season | 1 |
| Episode Name | "What the Constitution Greens to Me" |
| Air Date | Monday, January 6, 2020 |
| Time | 21:00 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 7.9 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Steve Robin |
| Writer | Shernold Edwards, James Rogers III |
| Full Cast List | Amy Quinn, Judge Albert Campbell, DDA Clayton Berger, Vic Callan, Wanda Taylor, Niles Allen, Jeremy Moore, Ed Parker, Dr. Timothy Gipson, Lola Carmichael, Mark Callan, Lisa Benner, Emily Lopez, Luke Watkins, Peter MacNicol |
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What You'll Learn
The episode's director and editor
The 12th episode of the first season of the legal drama series "All Rise", titled "What the Constitution Greens to Me", aired on January 6, 2020, and was directed by Steve Robin (as per one source) or Steve Rise (according to another). In this episode, Lola Carmichael, a judge, questions her brand of creative justice after a battle with the Commission of Judicial Performance. She is assigned a politically charged eco-terrorism trial involving a senator's son by Benner and must trust her instincts to succeed.
The episode also features an important storyline about a black woman, Joy Allen, who died of complications from childbirth due to racial bias. Her husband, Niles, and Mark Callan, who prosecutes the doctor accused of racial bias, work together to sway the jury to their side. The case leads to a discussion about the role of race in Joy's death, as Judge Albert Campbell asks Lola for her perspective.
The director of the episode, Steve Robin (or Steve Rise), faced criticism from one viewer, who felt that the quick and nonsensical cuts were distracting and more suited to a fast-moving action movie than a legal drama. The criticism also extended to the editor of the episode, who was not mentioned by name, with the viewer commenting that the "split-second cuts are ridiculous and distracting".
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The episode's cast
The cast of the "All Rise" episode "What the Constitution Greens to Me" includes:
- Peter MacNicol as Judge Albert Campbell
- Amy Quinn
- DDA Clayton Berger
- Vic Callan
- Wanda Taylor
- Niles Allen
- Jeremy Moore
- Ed Parker
- Dr Timothy Gipson
- Lola Carmichael
- Mark Callan
- Lisa Benner
- Emily Lopez
- Luke Watkins
The episode title is a variation on the play "What the Constitution Means to Me" by Heidi Schreck. The episode first aired on 6 January 2020 and was directed by Steve Robin.
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The play's cast
The cast of the "All Rise" episode "What the Constitution Greens to Me" includes:
- Peter MacNicol as Judge Albert Campbell
- Amy Quinn
- DDA Clayton Berger
- Vic Callan
- Wanda Taylor
- Niles Allen
- Jeremy Moore
- Ed Parker
- Dr. Timothy Gipson
- Lola Carmichael
- Mark Callan
- Lisa Benner
- Emily Lopez
- Luke Watkins
The episode appears to be based on the play "What the Constitution Means to Me" by Heidi Schreck.
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The play's themes
Heidi Schreck's play, "What the Constitution Means to Me", explores several themes, including constitutional rights, gender equality, and the personal impact of historical documents on contemporary life. The play is partly based on Schreck's life and addresses issues such as women's rights, immigration, domestic abuse, and the history of the United States.
One central theme is the failure of the U.S. Constitution to protect women. Schreck highlights that women's issues, including abortion, are absent from the Constitution. She shares her own experience of getting an abortion and the stories of abuse faced by her mother, grandmother, and other women in her family. This theme of women's rights and equality was particularly pertinent to audiences in 2018 during the Senate hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
The play also delves into the history of Schreck's family, specifically her great-grandmother's immigration story. She addresses the idea of being a "good immigrant," which reviewers parallel with President Donald Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric. Additionally, Schreck discusses her family's experiences with domestic abuse and violence, including the abuse faced by her mother and grandmother.
"What the Constitution Means to Me" also explores constitutional rights and the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. Schreck argues that the Constitution does not protect all Americans because it focuses on negative rights and does not limit the actions of white men. The play ends with a unique dialogue in each performance, where Schreck debates a local high school student on whether the U.S. Constitution should be abolished and replaced, with the audience acting as the jury.
The play blends personal storytelling with a critical examination of the U.S. Constitution, offering a thought-provoking exploration of American identity, civic responsibility, and the impact of historical documents on contemporary lives. It covers a range of complex and sensitive topics, including historical injustices, contemporary issues, and political and social commentary.
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The play's critical reception
The play What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck received positive critical reception. It premiered on Broadway on March 31, 2019, at the Hayes Theater, with Schreck herself in the leading role. The play received two Tony Award nominations and was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The play was called "not just the best play to open on Broadway so far this season, but also the most important" by The New York Times. Critic Sara Holdren wrote in New York Magazine that the play is a "brilliantly crafted show, harrowing and funny and humane, that accesses the political through the deeply personal." Ben Brantley, also of The New York Times, commented that "more artistic choice could have been taken in the production of the play; but the whirlwind, all-in-one-breath nature of the play echoes the feeling of desperation that permeates Schreck's storylines." Time Magazine named it one of the 10 Best Theater Performances of 2019.
Thom Geier of The Wrap wrote of the 2018 Off-Broadway production: "Schreck is an engaging storyteller with a delivery that seems improvised even when she is sticking to her winding but always-focused script. Again and again, she manages to imbue her exploration of the politics of constitutional rights from the lens of the personal. And of the individuals left out as Americans saw their rights expand."
The play was also praised for its educational value, prompting critical thinking about American history, civic engagement, and the impact of the Constitution on individual lives. It was noted for its ability to serve as a catalyst for discussions on civic responsibility and personal identity, and contemporary judicial issues. The play was also well-received for its blend of personal storytelling with a critical examination of the U.S. Constitution, exploring themes such as constitutional rights, gender equality, domestic abuse, and the history of the United States.
The play was adapted into a TV episode of "All Rise" in 2020, with a similar title: "What the Constitution Greens to Me."
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Frequently asked questions
What the Constitution Greens to Me.
Steve Robin.
Shernold Edwards and James Rogers III.
The cast includes Peter MacNicol as Judge Albert Campbell, Amy Quinn, Vic Callan, Wanda Taylor, Niles Allen, Jeremy Moore, Ed Parker, and Dr. Timothy Gibson.
