The Shape of Things

Synopsis

Adam is a non-descript young student who works part-time in an art museum and a video store just to pay his way through college. That is, until he meets Evelyn, at which moment his life changes. Evelyn instils a new-found confidence in Adam, making him feel better about himself by changing his appearance, helping him lose weight, and giving him fashion advice. Soon Adam is attracting attention he has never had before. But how far is Adam willing to go to make his relationship with Evelyn work? And how much will he change his perception of himself from what he used to be to what he believes he wants to be?

Our Review:

31 May 2001

The ever-changing shape of things - not to mention the shape of people - which is the theme of Neil LaBute's new play, is immediately put to the test in the very theatre it is being staged in.

For in one of the more extraordinary surprises of this constantly surprising evening, the Almeida's new King's Cross performing space isn't what it seemed to be when Lulu opened it, either. The shape of this thing now has an audience seated on three sides around a wide, rectangular stage, rather than in a single steep bank in front of a deep stage.

Meanwhile, the shapes of the characters onstage appear to be mutable, too. When first seen, Paul Rudd's Adam is a nerdy, nervous art gallery attendant, sporting an ill-fitting corduroy jacket, dated haircut and glasses. In the course of the play, not only does the relationship he forges with art student Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) transform him emotionally, it also transforms him physically, both in the clothes he wears a...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 7 July 2001:

Postscript to the above: for  in the review above, please read '-'. What was formatted in MS Word didn't transcribe here. Apologies for any annoyance or confusion. fc...

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