reasons to be pretty Reviews

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.

Updated On: 4/2/09 at 12:58 AM

Rave from Brantley in the Times.

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

It's from the off-Broadway run.

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.

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.

---

*deleted double post*

Updated On: 4/2/09 at 12:35 PM

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

---

I am completely shocked...

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).

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.

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.

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.

"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.