Newsflash: society puts a premium on good looks, or what most people consider good looks.
But though this might be self-evident, most of us take it for granted. A new, young theatre company is bringing up the issue in the mounting of a well-received Broadway play.
From July 3-7 at the on Commercial Drive, Matchbox Theatre will present Neil LaButes . LaBute, whose film credits include In the Company of Men (1997), Your Friends and Neighbours (1998), and Death at a Funeral (2010), is a filmmaker, screenwriter and playwright who has made a specialty out of examining the ugly side of contemporary relationships.
Its an ambitious piece for a director whos fresh out of university. I love how real his [LaButes] stories are, and how they resonate with people, says director Jessica Van Elk, who recently graduated from Langleys Trinity Western University.
In Reasons to Be Pretty, LaBute questions why we give beauty status and power, says Van Elk. Physical looks dont really say much about a person, but so many of us strive to be thought of as beautiful.
At the four-character plays beginning, Steph becomes upset with her boyfriend Greg when he admits he doesnt think of her as beautiful. But there is another couple in the play, Kent and Carly.
[Kent and Carlys] relationship is mainly based on the physical, says Van Elk. He makes a comment at one point, because she gets pregnant, that sure, she has a tummy now, but once the baby comes out shes going to hit the gym right away that she knows her looks are all shes got going for her.
Megan Couch, who originally read for the role of Carly, will play Steph; Van Elks partner in Matchbox, Rebecca Jayne, is Carly.
For Stephanie, I wanted to cast someone who wasnt blonde, says Van Elk. I feel like in our society when someones blonde theyre automatically considered a little more beautiful, for some reason. So I wanted someone who could play the insecurity and hurt and understand where Stephanies coming from.
The guys are typecast by their physical appearances more so than the actresses Kent (Jordan Schuurman) needs to be more physically commanding than Greg (David Shoffner).
All actors are working without promise of payment to help Matchbox Theatre bring Reasons to Be Pretty to the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»stage. Its a project of passion for the company, and in particular for Van Elk. She says she sees the issues brought up in the play, particularly the striving for physical beauty, time and time again.
In university, she says, I found myself caught up in comparing myself to other girls. That aspect of the character of Steph really resonated with me, and so do the questions LaBute asks like, why do people do this?
Tickets are $12 at the door; for reservations, email [email protected].
