The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute

How far would you go for love? For art?

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Performances:
23 & 24 and 29-31 March at 7.45 pm - £10/£7
Theatre Box Office
020 8788 6943

www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk

The theatre’s box office is open weekdays 9am-5pm and
on Saturdays 9am-2pm. For advance bookings and details
of party rates (10 or more) telephone 020 8788 6943.

Reserved tickets must be claimed half an hour before the
performance and please note that it is not possible to
admit latecomers to Studio or restricted seating productions.

Putney Arts Theatre Ravenna Road SW15 6AW
tel 020 8788 6943
fax 020 8788 6940
www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk

Events in Putney

How far would you go for love? For art? What would you be willing to change and at what price? A young student drifts into an ever-changing relationship with an art student while his best friends' engagement crumbles, unleashing a savagely funny drama that peels back the skin of two modern-day relationships, exposing the raw meat and gristle that lies beneath. In true LaBute fashion, witty and biting, ‘The Shape of Things’ forces the audience to take a hard look at society’s moral ambiguity and obsession with the superficial.

Director Jordana Berk says:
“Neil LaBute has been described as ‘American theatre’s reigning misanthrope’. I, however, think that this is a slightly narrow description of him and his work. LaBute’s work strives to highlight the petty and mean things people do to each other; however, he is very careful to make the distinction between the unintentional and the calculated. LaBute himself has disputed his label as a misanthrope and, perhaps, there is no one word to describe him, because in reality, it’s more complicated than that.”

In ‘The Shape of Things’, Evelyn represents that calculated nastiness. She operates without any sense of moral correctness, while Adam’s actions are of a subtler nature and lack a certain self awareness. While his plays may not capture humanity at its best, they encourage audience members to examine their own morality and behaviour. In a society where, in Evelyn’s words, we often look at people and think, ‘they’re perfect, they’re great, except for just one thing…’ can we really judge LaBute’s characters for their moral transgressions? Or are they just perhaps mirror images of our own neuroses and bad behaviour?

2001 Almeida Premiere…”Everyone who sees this should be intrigued and impressed by its brilliantly layered personality portraits that reveal how no one is what they seem or turns out the way they began. We are all of us, in any case, works in progress.” - Mark Shenton, WhatsOnStage

2004 Revival at the New Ambassadors Theatre…”Art may be made by monsters, but what about the audience who enjoys it? Clever [and] uncomfortable, The Shape of Things leaves the audience with much to talk about.” - Brian Clover, Curtain Up

February 17, 2012