Constellations

by Nick Payne

One relationship. Infinite possibilities. 'Let's go for a drink. I don't know what I'm doing here anyway. One drink. And if you never want to see me again you never have to see me again'. Nick Payne's "Constellations" is a play about free will and friendship; it's about quantum multiverse theory, love and honey. "Constellations" premiered at the Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in January 2012.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Science Fiction

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2012

Reviews

[باقر هاشمی · Rating 4 out of 5]

در زندگی واقعی هر اتفاق فقط یک بار می افته. جهان در حال شدنه. در زندگی واقعی مسیری رو می پیماییم که در اون محکوم به جبر مطلقی به نام "انتخاب" هستیم و اونچه که امروز برای ما اتفاق می افته نتیجه‌ی انتخاب‌های قبلی خودمونه. پس هیچ انسانی قربانی شرایط نیست و سر بزنگاه، این خودشه که انتخاب می کنه قطار زندگیش از کدوم رِیل بره و تنها خودش مسئول انتخابیه که کرده.
حالا سوال اینجاست که اگر خودش باید مسیرش رو انتخاب کنه، مجبوره یا مختار؟ درسته که مختاره خودش یکی از ریل‌ها رو انتخاب کنه اما تعداد ریل‌ها که نامحدود نیستن. پس مجبوره از بین ریل‌های موجود یکی رو انتخاب کنه.

[KamRun · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the quantum multiverse, every choice, every decision you've ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.

نمایش رابطه ی عاشقانه یک زنبوردار (رولند) و یک دانشمند مکانیک کوانتوم (مری) از آغاز تا مرگ یکی از شخصیت ها رو به تصویر می کشه و در این بین گریزی هم به نظریه جهان های موازی و مفهوم زمان در نظریه گرانش کوانتومی می زنه

Listen to me, listen to me. The basic laws of physics—the b-basic laws of physics don’t have a past and a present. Time is irrelevant at the level of a-atoms and molecules. It’s symmetrical
We have all the time we’ve always had.
You’ll still have all our time.
Once I
Once
Once
There’s not going to be any more or less of it.
Once I’m gone.

نمایشنامه سیر خطی نداره و حالت های مختلفی رو که انتخاب های رولند و مری در جهان های موازی ایجاد می کنه شامل می شه، به همین دلیل یک صحنه چندین بار بصورت های مختلف تکرار می شه. نکته جالب تصمیم به انجام اتانازی توسط یکی از شخصیت های نمایش بود که اولین بار هست می بینم به چنین موضوعی در یک نمایشنامه پرداخته می شه. این نمایشنامه به فارسی ترجمه نشده، نمایشنامه رو می تونید به زبان اصلی از این لینک دانلود کنید

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اجرا در ایران
این نمایشنامه یکبار با نام صور فلکی به کارگردانی اشکان جنابی در اردیبهشت 95 و اخیرا با نام اگر به کارگردانی وحید رهبانی در شهریور 95 با حاشیه هایی به روی صحنه رفت

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior quantum cosmology relationship drama. Also contains a great speech about the sex lives of bees, but be warned that the plot may be hard to follow if you don't know the geography of Adelaide.

[صان · Rating 3 out of 5]

با تشکر از کامران عزیز برای پیشنهاد و قرار دادن پی‌دی‌اف این کتاب برای دانلود.

به پیشنهاد کامران دانلود کردم و شروع کردم به خوندن‌اش. موضوع و اسم نمایشنامه انقدر جذاب بود که تا آخرش رو رفتم.

قضیه درباره‌ی رابطه‌ی عشقیِ یک زنبوردار با یک تئوریسینِ فیزیک هست و احتمالات این رابطه. این نمایشنامه نمود بیرونیِ تئوری جهان‌های موازی بود. نشون می‌داد که اتفاقات به چه شکل‌هایی می‌تونن رخ بدن و چه چیزهایی می‌تونن اتفاق بیفتن. صحنه‌ها هی تکرار می‌شدن و بعضی گفتگو‌ها عوض می‌شدن و سیر متفاوتی رو جلو می‌بردن. یکی از پایان‌های نمایش هم هی خورد خورد به مخاطب داده می‌شد و در انتها می‌فهمیدی که قضیه از چه قراره. پایان‌بندی خوبی هم داشت. قراردادهای ذهن مخاطب رو باز می‌شکست و احتمالی جدید رو پیش می کشید.

خوندنش جالب بود.

[Harry McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any play that starts with the words 'an indented rule indicates a change in universe' is worth your time.

Saw the play on tour, then read the play a few days later, which is not something I normally do so soon after already experiencing the play, but I was so moved and astonished by Nick Payne's piece that I felt I had to read it.

The concept is as complicated as it is simple; the relationship between two people in many different universes. Roland is a beekeeper, Marianne is a physicist. Hilarity and heartbreak ensues. A trait that you worry will begin to grow tired - the repeated jumps between universes, meaning some scenes last no longer than 10 seconds - does not, and enhances both the comedic and tragic values of the play.

Perhaps most importantly, it's short, running 68 minutes on stage and my edition running to 70-odd pages. If you hate it, you won't be in pain for long.

Believe me, it's worth checking out.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this anywhere near as much as I thought I would. In theory it's a great idea and the structure is interesting but in practice I didn't like the characters too much and reading similar dialogue across time lines was a bit dull. Id like to see it on stage but couldn't imagine it well enough to understand the writing.

[cossette · Rating 4 out of 5]

(reread, 3/19/23)

forever thinking about:

— "we have al the time we’ve always had. you’ll still have all our time. there’s not going to be any more or less of it once i’m gone."
— "honeybees have an unfailing clarity of purpose. their lives are often intensely short. but in a strange sort of way, i'm jealous of the humble honey bee and their quiet elegance. if only our existence were that simple. if only we could understand why it is that we're here and what it is that we're meant to spend our lives doing. i am uncertain when it comes to a great many things. but there is now one thing i am definitely certain of."

[Tuti · Rating 2 out of 5]

hm... this one wasn’t for me, sorry to say. sure, it’s a « great idea » the « different universes » etc - but actually it’s a lot of quite repetitive dialogues, not moving forward, not telling a story - by trying to tell « every possible story » between two people... you end up by telling none. and in this way the characters desintegrated too into fragments of what they could have been. it’s all an effort to illustrate that « every decision your ever or never take » is there... but. if i’m honest... it ended up being kind of dull.

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless. Review to follow.

[Ntopia · Rating 4 out of 5]

نمی فهمم چه اتفاقی می‌افته اگه از همه چی سَر در بیاری.واقعا نمی‌فهمم چه اتفاقی می‌افته.نمی‌فهمم چه کمکی میتونه بهت بکنه.این چیزی رو آسون تر نمی کنه می کنه؟

[Mohammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

به آینه که نگاه می‌کنم، نمی‌دانم کدام چهره مرا می‌نگرد
بورخس

هم‌اختران روی دو تا از مباحث مورد علاقه‌ام دست گذاشته. مسئله جبر و اختیار و جهان‌های موازی. یکی به قدمت تاریخ تفکر بشر و دیگری مفهومی نسبتا جدید در فیزیک و فلسفه. امیدوارم زندگی هم‌اختران من چیزی جز سلسه زوزه‌های بی‌معنی در بیابانی از ستارگان بی اعتنا باشد؛ چیزی جز زندگیِ این‌جهانی ما

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more than this play gave me. The concept was so interesting, but it fell flat. I'm sure this is one that would be much better to see than read.

[Lille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading this because it is absolutely wonderful

[Mehdii · Rating 1 out of 5]

مسئله ی جبر و اختیار همیشه موضوعِ جالبی بوده. معمولاً رُمان و نمایشنامه هم قالب های جذابی برای ارائه ی یک نظریه هستند. اما نه به این شکل…تمامِ حرفِ این نمایشنامه در همان مقدمه ابتدایِ کتاب آمده.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazingly great play. Combining a person’s struggles with cancer and the multiverse theory, this is an extraordinary play that will boggle your mind as much as it tickles your fancy. Loved it.

[Dorottya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first step on a long road for me to dwelve into the wonders of really contemporary British plays. And I'm glad I could start out with something like Constellations. I loved it. I loved the whole "what could happen in alternate universes with the same two people" theme, and I loved the dialogue. Fresh, fun, but also deep and really credible. Overall, it gets a big thumbs up from me.

...................................................................................................................................................

2018, 2nd reread:

I can proudly present that the 2nd reread also included my own translation of this masterpiece... my little baby. I have reached a status where I feel actually PROUD of my work on this. And I love the play even more, and I discovered so-so many more little gems and wonderful themes about this play. I loved how all the alternate universe scenes and aftermaths actually made sense, even the most heart-breaking ones (especially in the end, when we see the ending where Marianne decides that she does not want to fight anymore to live, because she believes time is unimportant in the great scheme of HER science, even if it seems cruel towards Roland... I actually know researchers in my personal life who are really THIS enthusiastic and obsessed about their research subjects and findings, so I actually understand her... and that what is making it even more emotional for me

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a review of the New York City production of this play, and since I can't travel to New York City right now (or back in time to see the original London production) I figured the next best thing would be to read the play. All four actors who have played these two characters are ones I really like, so I figured I could visualize it fairly well.

I love this play. There are all sorts of tangents, different possibilities a story can take, and this play explores them. Roland raises bees, Marianne is a career astrophysicist, and they meet, fall in and out of love, make life choices in all different permutations. There were times where they were heartbroken, others angry, others just not in the right place at the right time. Other times they were. Other times one of them would move one, other times they wouldn't. It was an amazing combination of what-ifs that could have fallen flat in some stupid way, but there was so much emotion just in the dialogue that it carried over well. It's experimental in a good way, in a way where it actually makes me think about all the ways that we assume stories, in our lives and in literature especially, are predefined when they really don't have to be (and not in a lame "Groundhog Day" and derivative works way). I read it when I was super sick and usually take even less of this quantum physics alternative timeline gimmick then, and it was awesome.

[Evi Routoula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Το θεατρικό έργο του Νικ Πέιν πρωτοπαίχτηκε στο Ρόαγιαλ Κορτ στο Λονδίνο πριν μερικά χρόνια και μεταφέρθηκε στην Αθήνα στο Θέατρο του Νέου Κόσμου την σεζόν 2013-2014 σε μετάφραση Δημήτρη Κιούση. Η ιδέα στηρίζεται στην θεωρία της σχετικότητας του Αινστάιν, στην κβαντομηχανική και στα παράλληλα σύμπαντα. Έτσι παρακολουθούμε ένα ζευγάρι να γνωρίζεται, να συνομιλεί, να φλερτάρει, να συζεί, να αντιμετωπίζει την απιστία, να αντιμετωπίζει το θάνατο, σε διάφορες παραλλαγές. Ενώ ζούνε τα ίδια γεγονότα οι αντιδράσεις τους κάθε φορά είναι διαφορετικές, οι επιλογές τους κάθε φορά είναι διαφορετικές. Ως όντα ενός ατέρμονου σύμπαντος, το ζευγάρι ζει στο παρελθόν, στο παρόν και στο μέλλον παράλληλα. Ο Πέιν έγραψε το έργο με αφορμή τον θάνατο του πατέρα του, ήταν ένας τρόπος για να καταπολεμήσει την απώλειά του: ήθελε να πιστεύει ότι σε κάποιο άλλο σύμπαν ο πατέρας του δεν είχε ακόμα γεννηθεί, σε κάποιο άλλο του ήταν ένας άγνωστος κοκ. Είναι μια υπέροχη ιδέα, μια πραγματικότητα για τους αστροφυσικούς και μια παρηγοριά ίσως για τον κοινό θνητό!

[Illiterate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not convinced particle physics affects how we relate to our lives. The iterations merely evoke contingency. And, on the page, they’re tediously repetitive.

[Hz.Motaee · Rating 5 out of 5]

من اين نمايشنامه رو دوس داشتم و اين كار به همت جناب آقاي اشكان جنابي در ايران روي صحنه رفت.

http://www.tiwall.com/theater/sovaref...

[Rich Silvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after seeing the Broadway play. I find the concept of how a single sentence could change the entire trajectory of relationship fascinating.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and sweet

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

[Gareth Davies]

Really good use of the repetition and presented why it was happening.
Sometimes it got a little too similar between repeats of the same scene.
Appreciated the open-ended ending.

[Macy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Soooo meh. This really shows how briefly an idea is interesting for; the existential multi-universe ideas in Constellations are completely overdone and boring in 2024.

[Derek Dewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing is that so many people keep talking about how totally new this structure is. Except, it isn't. David Ives wrote the mini-play Sure Thing in 1988 and published in in 1994, and then there's the film "Groundhog Day", which was 1993. So, no - not a totally new structural concept.

And while a lot of the press seems to focus on the structure and the science bits, really this is a story of two people, and all the possibilities people encounter and even carry within themselves. That's the strength of this play - that and some really fantastic dialogue. But the ending kind of left me, I dunno, cold. I guess it would be how you do it on the stage, but it seemed a bit of a floomp (the sound of a wet towel hitting the floor). I think I expected more once it was all over, but it kind of felt more like a writing exercise than anything else.

But the roles are great, especially the female role. Two actors, pretty easy to mount a production. And it is thought provoking. But I just didn't feel it went far enough.

[filming.pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for class and it was a very intriguing and wild ride!

[Malcolm MacKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good play. Love time jumps. Misunderstanding of quantum mechanics but I can forgive that for the magical realism of it all. Love and grief man

[lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

[ 3.5 stars ]

"we have all the time we've always had. you'll still have all our time...there's not going to be any more or less of it."

NICK PAYNE WHEN I FUCKING GET YOU

ok, this has such a cool concept because who doesn't love multiverses? that being said, i think this would be a lot more compelling on stage than it is on the page. after the first two or three iterations of their interaction, i found myself skimming over the lines i had already read. the ending still made me cry though.

[Alex Chapes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️