Play examines modern-day obsession with appearance

Can a single innocent, albeit ill-advised, comment overheard and reported by a third party destroy a four-year relationship?

That question is the entry point to the University of Hawaii’s midsemester production of playwright Neil LaBute’s Tony Award-nominated drama "reasons to be pretty."

The play opens with a vicious one-sided argument already in progress. Greg (Brendin Brown) is being bullied and verbally abused by his live-in girlfriend, Steph (Jasmine Fernandez), after admitting he made an offhand remark to his buddy Kent that Steph had an "average" face while the two men were discussing the sex appeal of a female co-worker.

So much for four years together!

Fernandez gives a frighteningly convincing performance showing that hell hath no fury like a woman who has heard from her best friend that her boyfriend casually mentioned to his buddy that her face is "average." Brown gives an excellent portrayal of masculine bewilderment. He doesn’t understand why an apology for a comment made without malice isn’t an adequate response to her rage.

The fact that Steph might feel betrayed is beyond his comprehension.

Playwright LaBute has a great ear for the tirades that occur when a woman is angry about something and refuses to let the discussion drop until it has been resolved to her satisfaction. These scenes are painful to watch, but all of them are true to life.

Travis Ross is a commanding presence as Greg’s loudmouth buddy, Kent, a guy with a wandering eye and a deceptive aura of masculine camaraderie. Brittni Michele Shambaugh gives a chameleonlike performance as Carly, Kent’s ditsy but cunning wife and a security guard at the company where the men work. Carly feels no sense of guilt for having told Steph what she overheard Greg say to Kent. She likewise has no shame in playing on Greg’s emotions when she thinks he can help her.

As co-directed by UH faculty member Glenn Cannon and graduate student Tyler Nichols, "reasons to be pretty" registers most strongly as a statement about abusive relationships. How much emotional and physical abuse should Greg endure before he draws the line and pulls the plug on his relationship with Steph? How would we feel — the theater audience, or society in general — if the roles were reversed and Steph were the victim of Greg’s abuse?

And is there a right time to take revenge?

In a larger sense, taken as realistic, expletive-laden, modern theater, "reasons to be pretty" is driven by an edgy give-and-take among its four antagonists that makes each scene interesting.

Scenic and costume designer Donald Quilinquin, also a graduate student, uses a revolving stage to expedite the set changes. The action takes place in a bedroom, a warehouse break room, a food court, a restaurant and a baseball field. Set pieces are minimal but sufficient.

Quilinquin’s costume choices are basic and effective for the most part, but darned if Fernandez doesn’t somehow seem to become prettier and more stylish with every passing scene. It’s a phenomenon that any man who has ever longed for an ex will recognize and relate to.