Playwright: Neil LaBute. At: Profiles Theatre, 4139 N. Broadway. Tickets: 1-773-549-1815; www.profilestheatre.org; $35-$40. Runs through: Oct. 12
Neil LaBute's attitude about relationships is mellowing.
His men still are pigs with women in many ways, but at least they seem conflicted about it in LaBute's recent plays. Of course, his men also are pigs with other men, as seen in this new characteristic LaBute four-hander. Before the play begins, best friends Greg ( Eric Burgher ) and Kent ( Dennis Bisto ) and Steph ( Domenica Cameron-Scorsese ) and Carly ( Sarah Loveland ) have switched partners when longtime couple Greg and Steph break up, and married Kent and Carly divorce. Kent marries Steph while Greg begins seeing Carly. The play opens with Steph furiously confronting Greg for what she deems a betrayal. Soon, she admits that she still loves Greg and he returns the feeling, vowing to end things with Carly as Steph separates from Kent. But all bets are off when Carly tells Greg she's pregnant. There only are four characters, but you still need a scorecard.
Many readers will remember the Lovin' Spoonfuls hit "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind," and that describes Greg's situation. Like a lot of LaBute men he's a nice guy, not intentionally unkind but weak. He repeatedly says "I don't know yet" and "I'm not sure" when asked if he loves Carly or Steph, vacillating between them. Ultimately, he proposes a fairly preposterous solution which would allow him to escape without choosing; a solution rejected by both women who already have made crucial decisions about their futures. Thus, Greg is the central character but the game-changing heroic action of the play is shifted to the women.
All of this is played out in an interesting and driving fashion by Profiles' hard-sweating, intensely-focused cast, guided by director Darrell W. Cox, a veteran LaBute actor and director. There really isn't false note sounded by anyone, which doesn't necessarily make the characters likeable. Steph is a loose cannon whose angry emotions make her unattractive. Kent is a muscle head seemingly too thick to understand Greg's role in his misery. Greg's lack of honesty with himself and others quickly discredits him. Only Carly really emerges with integrity, realizing it's not enough merely to be desired by men. Each character is sad in his/her own way, but LaBute is too skillful a writer to make his play sad, leavening it with humor and punchy, rhythmic, realistic dialogue.
Scenic designer Shaun Renfro's handsome but simple setting utilizes an alley stage ( a long platform with the audience along two sides ) divided between a workplace lunchroom and a grassy terrace, skillfully lit by Claire Chrzan. The actors have no place to hide and, fortunately, don't need one in this full-throttle evening. As always, it's anyone's guess whether LaBute's can't-life-with-them/can't-live-without-them attitude will move you.