Reasons to be Pretty

As I begin this review, I can’t help but feel entirely inadequate and ashamed for having arrived late to the show. Missing the opening sequence often destroys the set-up for the rest of the play. However, this particular production was able to yank me into the action as soon as I plopped tardily down in my seat. I can only attribute this phenomenon to two things… the play and the production. That may sound like a particularly sycophantic toady, but why else would I care about two complete strangers’ conversation? The argument in the restaurant was as current as Isaiah Mustafa’s Old Spice commercial… “look at your man… now back to me… now back to your man etc.” Of course, for the Phoenix’s Production of Neil LaBute’s Reasons to be Pretty, my experience went a little more like: “… look at the stage …. Look at your life… look at the stage… well, you get the idea. Mr. LaBute’s outlines of dialogue were artfully enhanced by the actors’ ability to flesh out the fragments of conversation and reflect our own experiences back to us. Whether communicating missed opportunities at boosting our partner’s self image, or trying to keep really crappy secrets that should never have been shared to begin with, the production’s pace and style gave me just enough time to think, but not too much time making me go into wonder mode. (“I wonder why this scene change is so long,…” “I wonder what team LeBron will sign with…” “I wonder why I am not at home in a more comfortable chair….”)
The thumbnail version of the play (a sequel by the way) goes something like this. Greg and his 4 year long girlfriend, Steph, have a falling out because of careless conversation and a misconstrued comment. Their efforts and those of their friends to sort out the simplicity and complexity of love and relationships make for two hours of laughter and heartbreak. This evening’s quick paced banter between friends and lovers almost derailed in a couple of moments – but the payback of awkward silences quickly got us all back on track. Ryan Artzberger (Greg) has a quirky charm that makes quick friends with the audience who can only shake their heads at the boneheadedness of his character. His longtime girlfriend Steph, Angela Plank, was so graceful in her “plainness”, that I almost had to wonder at the casting – but the audible reactions from the audience echoed their sympathy for her plight and confirmed director Bryan Fonseca’s wisdom in selecting someone who could put out plain though her own person was quite lovely. Mariana Fernández was honest and beautiful from the first moment I saw her on the stage and her husband Kent, played by Shane Chuvalas was the quintessential tool. (Hard to believe that comment was a compliment – but you’ll have to go to the show to see what I mean.)

In a nutshell, The Phoenix rose to the occasion of welcoming a boorish late critic and making him feel welcome by their theatrical invitation to all of us to relax and look at our own lives… whenever we happen to get there. Bravo and thank you from A Guy in the House. For times and tix, please contact the Phoenix Box office. Reasons to be Pretty July 8-August 1 www.phoenixtheatre.org or 317.635.7529.                                                                                                                         
-Max Mount