The Beauty Plays are running in repertory (rotation) in the Wyly’s 6th floor studio black box theatre (an intimate space with minimal props); and in this case, the scene was set by images projected onto the wall along with bouncy jazz music.

This clean stage setup served to highlight the four characters and offered no elaborate visual effects to distract you from pondering such statements as:

“She likes it; but what I wanna know is, do you like it?”,

“Why do you like me?”, and

“He’s six things away from being amazing.”

Some of the interactions between performers were uncomfortable; and at times characters were even downright unlikable.  But that’s the point.  It’s an exploration of what’s good and bad in society.  For instance, if you help make someone ‘better’ physically, are you doing them a favor or is it just cruel emotional manipulation?  And what constitutes ‘better’ anyway? 

Be aware that the dialogue in this production is quite frank and at times explicit with mature themes and sexual situations.  But the language is authentic, and in many ways even necessary.

Overall we enjoyed the intensity of the program; and are looking forward to the next two plays in the series, Fat Pig and reasons to be pretty.

And if you feel inclined, we recommend sticking around after the show for Dallas Theater Center’s thought-provoking post-show discussion.  People seem to have extremely strong views and perceptions of the material which can be the catalyst for lively conversation which we found to be quite entertaining itself.