The Way We Get By

by Neil LaBute

Produced by Second Stage Theatre

June 13, 2015     The Way We Get By

 

Not to sound too jaded, I have grown a bit tired of Neil Labute. His plays seem to relentlessly focus on broken people making poor choices and stepping on a lot of feelings in the process. But this play was different for me. This play was sexy. You have that delicious human drama of waking up the morning after the night you can’t really remember doing the thing that you are oh, so unsure of. Who hasn’t been there?

Success in The Way We Get By begins in the casting. The pairing of Thomas Sodoske, an adorable geek clinging on to his Star Wars t-shirt at all costs, and TV star Amanda Seyfried really do rock this thing. I do not think that many straight men in the audience would chose their vintage Star Wars t-shirt at the cost of a second try with Amnda Seyfried – – but it takes all types.  T-shirt aside, these two make as many sparks with what they say as what they don’t say. Lounging on a couch in boxers and t-shirts never looked this good.

This dialogue could not be any more real if it tried. Neil Labute shows his very clear understanding of how this twenty-something generation really do sit down to solve problems. I loved the way they simply FLIRTED with each other – often while hurling insults. They made me want to get on stage and join in the fun.

And then there is the big surprise – – which would really not be fair to discuss except to say that I never saw it coming and once it came the whole play came together in a kick-ass climax.

I am hoping this starts a new trend for Neil Labute. He is so much more enjoyable when he is fun – – rather then mean.