Thoughts on "reasons to be pretty"

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:18pm

"Regular" is the insult of choice in "reasons to be pretty" the superb new Neil LaBute play that will soon elevate him to Broadway from his humble home at the Lortel.

"reasons to be pretty" is anything but regular - if it were a "regular" LaBute, I would throw it in a pile that contains In a Dark Dark House, Some Girl(s), Wrecks, and a few others. No, "reasons" is up there with his best - perhaps it is his best to date.

As I predicted Laura Benanti and Boyd Ganes for the win last July, months before GYPSY was even planned for Broadway, I will now proudly predict Alison Pill to win the "Featured Actress in a Play" Tony. Her delivery of the "here's what's wrong with you" monologue at a local mall in the middle of the first act is brilliant in its simplicty and tone.

Thomas Sadoski (who bears a striking resemblance to Steve Buscemi) is LaBute's first leading man who actually "grows," by the end of the play, and Sadoski displays the conflict of developing from man-child to plain man very well. The final scene between him and Pill, with all emotions on display, her possible desire to not move on, is devestating.

Piper Perabo and Pablo Schreiber provide solid back up. Schreiber is LaBute's typical male - a sexist, dimwitted guy prone to violence. Perabo was a bit bizarre, though it could be that her character is a dimwit, as well. But a well meaning dimwit, as opposed to Schreiber's.

Terry Kinney directed the hell out of LaBute's script, and even made the monologues, which here do serve as expositional shorthand, seem necessary.

Congratulations, Neil. You've finally got your groove back.

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:39pm

Looking forward to seeing this at the Lortel soon!

Oh, and thanks for the review. We'll see what happens with that Tony. Tom Cruise's wife might snatch it from her. As expected.

Updated On: 6/21/08 at 08:39 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:56pm

Expected by whom?

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:00pm

Not me.

That was, um, expected of galactic dimensions.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:05pm

Tom Cruise's wife might snatch it from her. As expected.

We don't even expect her to learn her lines - let alone win anything.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:05pm

Tom Cruise's wife might snatch it from her. As expected.

We don't even expect her to learn her lines - let alone win anything.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:17pm

As I predicted Laura Benanti and Boyd Ganes for the win last July, months before GYPSY was even planned for Broadway

I predict the actor playing Nemo in Disney's 2016 Broadway mounting of Finding Nemo will win Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

If Gypsy hadn't moved to Broadway, would your prediction still count?

Updated On: 6/21/08 at 09:17 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:45pm

Yes.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:52pm

But then your prediction would be wrong. They couldn't have won the Tonys if it never transferred to Broadway, so it makes no sense to pat yourself on the back for "predicting" something you didn't know would even be possible.

Updated On: 6/21/08 at 09:52 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:54pm

I'm psychic.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 11:26pm

I'm excited this is coming to Broadway, and more excited that it's good. Shape of Things and Fat Pig are two of my favorite plays!

[NYUrickydrummer]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 1:04am

Read my review at musicOMH.com here: http://www.musicomh.com/theatre/reasons-nyc_0608.htm .

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 8:25am

In response to your column, this is LaBute's first play with a seemingly happy ending.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 9:14am

"In response to your column, this is LaBute's first play with a seemingly happy ending."

You thought it had a happy ending? Really? While I loved the play, I found the ending so sad -- two people who were never able to eventually be together due to the lack of trust and respect for each other -- though clearly each was the other's true love. And let's not even talk about the other couple! Sorry. I sure wouldn't call it a happy ending.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 9:20am

"Happy" isn't the right word; don't know why I used it. What I meant was that, by the very end, Greg learns a lesson, which gives him, in a sense, salvation.

[titleofusername]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 12:15pm

I can't express how annoyed I am with myself that I opted out of seeing this on opening night. I don't think I can wait a year to see it on Broadway!