reasons to be pretty Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Hello All -

It is Thursday, April 2nd, and tonight will mark the opening of *reasons to be pretty* - a "comic drama" by Neil Labute - playing the Lyceum. This will be Mr. LaBute's debut as a Broadway playwright. The cast includes Marin Ireland, Steven Pasquale, Piper Perabo and Thomas Sadoski, under the direction of Terry Kinney.

The story, according to press notes, "confronts America's obsession with physical beauty headlong. In Neil LaBute's new play, Greg's tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his off-handed remarks about a female co-worker?s pretty face (and his girlfriend's lack thereof) get back to said girlfriend. But that's just the beginning."

My best to all involved.

[ColorTheHours048]

Hope it's improved since the third preview. Best of luck to the cast and crew and all involved!

[Yankeefan007]

Rave from Brantley in the Times.

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/theater/reviews/03brantley.html

[matty159]

A bit early for that to be posted live?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

It's from the off-Broadway run.

[matty159]

Sorry...didn't read the fine print.

[MiracleElixir]

I think you'll find it hasn't "improved" since the third preview. Not much has drastically changed. It just might just not be your kind of play.

[ColorTheHours048]

But, that's the thing. I've read it and many other of LaBute's plays. It IS my type of play. I love the play. I just didn't care much the production and the acting. All the same, I wish them nothing but the best.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Although not a huge fan of this show I have to hand it to the producers for believing in it and trying to get the word out there. Ads are plastered all over the subways, and have been there for weeks. I saw no less than 3 guys in sandwich boards in Times Square over the weekend handing out flyers. The other play that does this is The 39 Steps, and look how long it's been able to hang on.

I'm not saying all this advertising is going to insure success, but it certainly isn't going to hurt with all the competition right now.

[MiracleElixir]

Even with rave reviews, it's going to be tough to pack people into a straight play with no 'names' at this juncture. I wish them lots of success, and hope it's low-cost enough of a production that they can keep going without full houses.

[MiracleElixir]

*deleted double post*

[fetzles1490]

Best of luck to this show! I saw it at the start of previews and really enjoyed it. I didn't think it was outstanding, but I definitely had a good time. I like LaBute's work quite a lot.

[BustopherPhantom]

The Associated Press is a Rave:

"The complicated, often explosive relationships between men and women are a source of eternal, often contrary fascination for Neil LaBute, and they have been superbly realized in "Reasons to Be Pretty," his most compassionate, appealing work to date.

The play was first done off-Broadway by MCC Theater last summer. Now, with some revising and a recasting of two of its four roles, the production has found its way to Broadway where it opened Thursday at the Lyceum Theatre.

Unquestionably, it's a highlight of the season, and in Thomas Sadoski, director Terry Kinney has found the perfect embodiment of the play's benighted hero, Greg, a blue-collar factory worker with serious woman problems. In a breakout, Tony-calibre performance, Sadoski lives and breathes this decent, down-to-earth guy."

http://www.canadaeast.com/entertainment/article/623524

[ColorTheHours048]

Wow.

[WithoutATrace]

I am completely shocked...

[MiracleElixir]

I know, right? It's JAW-DROPPING when critics don't have the exact same opinion as you.

[WithoutATrace]

Let's not get into this, Miracle. Please.

I saw the show as pleasant mindless fun that has been done before...certainly not something that would garner rave reviews (but I guess only one has come out so far).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

I'm not shocked. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I hope it gets the reviews it deserves. It's definitely better than GOD OF CARNAGE, IMO and deserves to win the Tony for Best Play if the race is between them when all is said and done.

[KingKong]

I saw the show as pleasant mindless fun that has been done before...certainly not something that would garner rave reviews (but I guess only one has come out so far).

Yes, and you loved Story of my Life.

[WithoutATrace]

KingKong, so what? I did love the show and I'm proud to say I did.

[MiracleElixir]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

You thought "Blithe Spirit" and "Finian's Rainbow" were mind-blowing, life-changing theatre experiences, but "reasons to be pretty" was pleasant, mindless fun?

Ladies and gentleman of the jury, I rest my case.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Why does every thread have to escalate into a bitchy fight lately?

WAT liked STORY and didn't like REASONS. Just leave it be. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I happen to disagree with him on both shows as well but I respect his opinion and leave it be.

Period.

Now back to these reviews, here's hoping they all follow suit with the AP.

[ColorTheHours048]

This play is not pleasant, mindless, or (when you really get down to it) very much fun. I think the play is very well-written and it has something very important to say.

[WithoutATrace]

Neither BLITHE SPIRIT nor FINIAN'S RAINBOW were mind-blowing, life-changing theater experiences. I enjoyed both very much, but did they change my life? Certainly not.

IRENA'S VOW, however, was a mind-blowing, life-changing theatrical experience, in my opinion.

[MiracleElixir]

"Why does every thread have to escalate into a bitchy fight lately? WAT liked STORY and didn't like REASONS. Just leave it be. Everyone is entitled to their opinions."

Please. Just so you know, WiCKed, having a disagreement is not the equivalent of "bitchy fighting." The whole point on these boards is to be able to discuss, not simply stoke and agree.

I don't care what anyone likes or dislikes -- lord knows I've had my own unpopular opinions -- but if someone's dismissing a show in a way that really makes it seem like they didn't see it, one should be able to respond. Pleasant? Fun? Mindless? Seriously? Think of some adjectives that actually apply.