Vern Thiessen, one of Canada’s most produced playwrights, utilizes a never-before-seen setting for a theatrical romance: the library of the US Supreme Court. In Thiessen’s new play, A More Perfect Union, law clerks Maddie and James decide to set a new precedent: although they are loyal to opposing justices, the two agree to collaborate, reviewing potential cases together, and getting the job done twice as fast. What appears to be a harmless solution for two overworked law clerks, soon leads to a burgeoning romance and a question of constitutionality.

The play presents intriguing questions about how to preserve one’s values when life gets in the way.

Through witty and fast-paced dialogue, we learn that Maddie, born to a Jewish immigrant family, and James, a black man from affluent parents, come with a lot of baggage. But they also come with a strong desire to preserve the Constitution — even if their approaches to this task are different. Maddie sides with the Court’s conservative justice, nicknamed the “Wise One” by his law clerks; James, who is a liberal, supports the “Enlightened One.” During the characters’ playful banter, they also refer to the “Ancient One,” a justice who often falls asleep in the middle of court proceedings.

At first, the characters’ differing political views divide them, but as they engage in mock arguments before an imaginary court, it becomes clear that even an opposing point of view can be valid. Maybe I’ll persuade you tomorrow, is a common refrain heard throughout the show as the characters learn to respect each others’ opinions.

Although an interest in US history, politics, or judicial system is not necessary to appreciate this well-crafted, funny play, it certainly will enrich the viewer’s experience. Someone interested in examining our constitutional rights will soak up the discussions of the cases sifted through by Maddie and James.

All this logical debate contrasts with the irrational, emotional journey of falling in love. Maddie and James refer to their love affair in the corner of the Supreme Court library as their own “dirty little secret.” Much of the play focuses on these types of secrets — the things that were not supposed to happen and yet did. Secrets are revealed about the workings of the Supreme Court and about Maddie and James’s pasts. We also see the mistakes that force the characters to choose between their own wellbeing, and defending their principles. In the end, we wonder: what sacrifices will the characters make in order to form a more perfect union?