I settle down into my seat and stare up at the looming ceiling of the stage. Tall shelves filled with packaged products surround the downstage area and side stage areas. A bed lies messily made in the middle of the stage, giving the impression of a person who has more important things to worry about than making a bed. Suddenly, the lights dim and the action starts…with angry fighting between a couple. About the importance of physical features and its influence on society.

That was the message deeply inscribed in the perfect little drama called reasons to be pretty at the Lyceum Theater. The play revolved around only four characters (Greg, Steph, Kent, and Carly) and the relationships between each of them. As the play carries on, secrets are revealed and more dramatic character ensues. The idea of the play is common and is not entirely unique, but the emotions of the characters are definitely something one could get into. The power of each line and movement made by each performer moved the audience with complete intensity. The audience felt what the character felt in those moments. Even as I sat in my seat, I could feel the audience’s emotions waiting to be triggered by the lines spouted from the actors on stage.

The play held a great deal of humor that changed the “soap opera” back into a so-called “romantic comedy.” Though romantic comedies are way over-populated, I’m glad that writer Neil LaBute chose to make his play like one. Without the humor, I would think the play would still be interesting but without much spirit. The humor really brought the life to the show and possibly erased the sadness the audience had just witnessed.

Despite the fact that the play appears to be a simple romantic comedy at first, it becomes complicated as there are also other lessons learned in the worlds of each character, as well as their discovery of who they really are. The play doesn’t leave a full conclusion of what happens to each character, but the last few scenes are enough to show us a clear epilogue of what could have happened to them. In the end, however, the audience recognizes the morality of certain actions and I find that the messages portrayed in the play definitely got through. The scenes are so highly strung in our memories that one absolutely could not forget the passion each character encountered. In fact, if anyone who saw the play had to confront such similar situation, they would most likely think back to the play and act as the characters had. The characters in the play no doubt go through what many people can coincide with; like Carly discovering the prospects of motherhood, Greg battling between his job as a factory worker and going back to school, and of course, the importance and aspects of physical appearance. Neil LaBute’s characters help us gain confidence in such dilemmas and find the right solution. There really is much more to this play than just a romantic comedy since changing the thoughts on what’s moral and what’s not is definitely crucial in a situation. Maybe I’m over analyzing the play, but I find that the characters’ preference on their next moves was the biggest influence on the cast.

Finally, not only was the play incredible, the music used was amazing as well. Changing the dropout in between scenes came along with killer rock songs, none of which I know the names of. But it kept the audience prepped for the wild excitement of mellow craziness coming up in the next scene. I applaud Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen of Sound and Music Design for choosing such elaborate tunes to layer the play. The music and the adrenaline of the audience combined nearly had them dancing in the aisles like some High School Musical replay, had it not been the cramped space of the theater.

I would definitely see this play again to watch the drama unfold and piece itself back together to normality.