Neil labute is the author of in the company of men, your friends and neighbours, and bash. The shape of things with paul rudd, fred weller, gretchen moll, rachel weisz written and directed by neil labute its all subjective, says evelyn, a graduate student in art at pretty little mercy college, to adam, a senior english major and the sole survivor of her masters thesis, which. To shaping this idea, the first work read in class was the play, the shape of things, by neil labute. The shape of things transcript is here for all you fans of neil labute movies andor paul rudd and rachel weisz. His films include in the company of men, your friends and neighbors, the shape of things, some velvet morning, and dirty weekend. If you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a line. Owned by bethany kennedy, 808 sage meadow dr, glenn heights. Acclaimed and highly discussed filmmaker neil labute has made himself a force to be reckoned with and a name to watch. His most recent works for the stage include this is how it goes, fat pig winner the outer critics circle award for outstanding off broadway play, mercy seat, autobahn, and the shape of thingsall available from faber and faber. He is a lucille lortel playwrights sidewalk inductee and a recipient of a literature award from the. But in the shape of things, neil labutes absolutely chilling report from the sex wars frontline, where stratagems for sexual humiliations are planned, adam, the shy chap concerned, takes the videocamera, so to speak, lying down. Mar 01, 2009 playwrightdirector neil labute cuts an imposing figure.
Labutes ugliest characters are often the prettiest men. With his truetolife cynical and selfabsorbed characters and alltootrue social themes, he has firmly established himself as an unforgiving judge of the ugliest side of human nature. The entire dialogue script, all the quotes, the whole shebang. But in the shape of things, neil labute s absolutely chilling report from the sex wars frontline, where stratagems for sexual humiliations are planned, adam, the shy chap concerned, takes the videocamera, so to speak, lying down. The shape of truth in the shape of things the atlas society. Before we started reading it, we had the topic gender roles, so the play is a bit about it. Labute, the remarkable american movie director and playwright whose film in the company of men showed a sexually. The play continues labute s theme of what lies beneath the surface of contemporary america but here in the context of the relationship. Shes afraid that her life will always be defined by the way she looks but shes sincere and honest and tries to be a good friend.
Playwrightdirector neil labute cuts an imposing figure. Labute born march 19, 1963 is an american playwright, film director, screenwriter, and actor. The shape of things richard steins observant direction lets neil labutes play speak for itself rather than lapse into polemic, and stacy solodkin, michael eric strickland, robyn cohen and jay. Evelyn begins changing everything about adam and eventually he stops seeing. Meanwhile, across town on melrose avenue in hollywood, labutes personal in a dark dark house focuses on the many effects of sexual abuse and the way society might be. May 11, 2009 nuts presents the shape of things 26th30th may 2009 studio one theatre, gate 2, unsw aushapeofthings. The shape of things red stitch actors theatre australias.
I hope this encourages some of you to dig into some of his. Neil labute is the author of plays such as the shape of things and reasons to be pretty. Ive always been that way but its no great big deal to me if anything, its worked against me for most of my life. It premiered at the almeida theatre, london in 2001 with paul rudd as adam, rachel weisz as evelyn, gretchen mol as jenny, and fred weller as phillip.
Born in detroit, michigan, labute was raised in spokane, washington. The shape of things by, neil labute this is definitely on of my favorite shows i have done up to date. Neil labute is a critically acclaimed playwright, filmmaker, and fiction writer. Completed script shape of things scene 1 a museum a museum silence darkness a young woman stands near a stretch of velvet rope she has a can in one. Such are the painful questions explored by neil labute in the shape of things. The play opens with evelyn in the museum where she meets adam, the security guard. Writerdirector neil labute returns to his nasty habits after a foray into romance possession with this female counterpart to his breakthrough film, in the company of men, but his return to his roots feels like a retread. In this monologue, she takes a journey through rage, sadness then finally, acceptance.
The inciting incident is when she spray paints her phone number onto adams jacket. The shape of things by neil labute 1047 words 123 help me. Nuts presents the shape of things 26th30th may 2009 studio one theatre, gate 2, unsw aushapeofthings. Mar 29, 2009 labutes ugliest characters are often the prettiest men. Tony nominated for best play, reasons to be pretty continues a series that includes the shape of things, fat pig a previous geffen playhouse hit and reasons to be happy. Neil labutes films are small, tight, even confined, electric little chamber pieces bearing the stamp of his own first love, the theater. Art and life since the beginning of the semester, the main idea of the class has been to demonstrate how life imitates art more than art imitates life wilde 10. Tom has told her that shes overreacting to the situation. The shape of things is a 2001 play by american author and film director neil labute and a 2003 american romantic drama film. Neil labutes plays include bash, in a forest, dark and deep, and reasons to be happy. Nov 15, 2001 i had to read the shape of things by neil labute for my english class. Im a relatively nice person interview by elizabeth day the american dramatist on threeminute plays, meeting pinter and the boyish looks of aaron eckhart. Hes implicated in a fatal homophobic beating, a gang rape and a number of. In this monologue, jeannie tells him that if shes acting a.
Paul rudd, an actor and labutes friend, says he believes that neil is fascinated by the handsome frat boys because they have this. Carly works as a security guard in a warehouse, a job she got because she was pretty, not because she has an aptitude for it. Neil labute s films are small, tight, even confined, electric little chamber pieces bearing the stamp of his own first love, the theater. The second program of summer shorts 2019, at 59e59 theaters, is a patchy evening including a contribution by neil labute. Reasons to be pretty is the bookend to the three vanity plays of labute the shape of things and fat pig being the first two.
This play will mean something different to each person who reads it. A quiet, unassuming man begins to change in a major way as a result of meeting a new, artstudent girlfriend, and his friends are unsettled by the transformation. According to the authors instructions, it is to be. Though the vocabulary used within this script is quite simple, the messages portrayed are far from juvenile. Adam from the shape of things by neil labute character. There was a number of changes made to evelyns monologue in scene 9. In 3 short plays, the art of making up and breaking up. Jrb i think of your work and i think of tests, making trouble with them. His most recent works for the stage include this is how it goes, fat pig winner the outer critics circle award for outstanding off broadway play, mercy seat, autobahn, and the shape of things all available from faber and faber. Jun 10, 2001 the actors dont bow at the end of neil labutes the shape of things, which says something about the shape of an evening that doesnt want a curtain call to interrupt the inevitable. Bobbi from some girls by neil labute monologue search. Neil labute s plays include bash, in a forest, dark and deep, and reasons to be happy.
Olivia lupia the shape of things monologue youtube. Film notes the shape of things university at albany. Neil labute s plays include bash, reasons to be happy, the money shot, and the way we get by. Owned by bethany kennedy, 808 sage meadow dr, glenn. To what extent is an artist licensed to shape and change her medium or to alter the work of another artist. His films include in the company of men, your friends and neighbors, the shape of things, obsession, some velvet morning, and dirty weekend.
Adam was a awkward, unstylish young man until he met and began dating evelyn, an eccentric, manipulative artist. Neil labute list of famous monologues with associated characters and shows. After last years production of the award winning bash see link below at the almeida, neil labutes new play the shape of things, which the author directs, is a mustsee. Rachel weisz plays art student evelyn, who, unawares to adam, takes him on for an ambitious project. There are no surprises to be had in the shape of things, which telegraphs its twist ending in its first ten minutes. Right before she begins, bobbis exboyfriend has just confessed to the many girls he slept with while trying to explain that he never meant to hurt her.
And although what she did was wrong the figure of the statue was a bit more. He is bestknown for a play that he wrote and later adapted for film, in the company of men 1997, which won awards from the sundance film festival, the independent spirit awards, and the new york film critics circle. I suddenly realized that i looked like neil diamond, and i got faintly hysterical. He is a lucille lortel playwrights sidewalk inductee and a recipient. Jun 05, 2002 the shape of things richard steins observant direction lets neil labute s play speak for itself rather than lapse into polemic, and stacy solodkin, michael eric strickland, robyn cohen and jay. Shape of things script by neil labute starring rachel weisz. The shape of things transcript is here for all you fans of neil labute movies and or paul rudd and rachel weisz. Jeannie from fat pig by neil labute monologue search. A heavyset man with curly locks, bulky blackframed eyeglasses, and a ten oclock shadow, he dominated the stage of thetimescenter on monday, march 23 when he sat with new york times theatre reporter patrick healy to discuss his trilogy of plays focused on physical appearances, which began with the shape of things 2001 and fat pig. Interviews with authors neil labute gotham writers. Jeannie has just found out that tom is seeing someone else after theyve been dating on and off for almost a year. The play continues labutes theme of what lies beneath the surface of contemporary america but here in the context of the relationship.
Acclaimed and highly discussed filmmaker neil labute has made himself a force to be reckoned with and a. Labute has divided his time between the theater and film, and many of his films, like the shape of things, are based on his own theatrical works. Neil labute s play is an intense and disturbing study not only of the uses of power within human relationships, but also of the ethics involved in the relationship of art and life. I had to read the shape of things by neil labute for my english class. The shape of things nov 16 dec 17, 2005 helen thomson, the age 22112005 in this play by american writer neil labute, best known for the play and film in the company of men, red stitch has found a work that requires, and here receives, extraordinary performances to carry off its edgy style and shocking plot transformation. Completed script shape of things scene 1 a museum a. He studied theater at brigham young university byu, where he joined the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
A young student drifts into an everchanging relationship with an art major while his best friends engagement crumbles, so unleashing a drama that peels back the skin of two modernday relationships. In this monologue, jeannie tells him that if shes acting a little crazy its all his fault. Thankfully, this is something that ive rarely suffered from, at least the kind of blockage that ive imagined happening or heard of happening to others. This play would be a good suggestion for a school scene study or low budget, fulllength performance. A young student drifts into an everchanging relationship with an art major while his best friends engagement crumbles, so unleashing a drama that peels back the skin of two modernday relationships, exposing the raw meat and gristle that lie beneath. Jan 29, 2016 the shape of things by neil labute warning. The original script of neil labutes the shape of things was written in 2001. This monologue from the shape of things by neil labute is one of my favorites. Yyy dtqcfycrncrwd eqo kphqdtqcfycrncrwd eqo owned by bethany kennedy, 808 sage meadow dr, glenn heights, tx, 75154, 4026300823. To shaping this idea, the first work read in class was the play, the shape of things, by. A heavyset man with curly locks, bulky blackframed eyeglasses, and a ten oclock shadow, he dominated the stage of thetimescenter on monday, march 23 when he sat with new york times theatre reporter patrick healy to discuss his trilogy of plays focused on physical appearances, which began with the. Female carly from reasons to be pretty by neil labute carly. I recently finished reading the shape of things by neil labute and the words and characters have still managed to remain on my brain. Meanwhile, across town on melrose avenue in hollywood, labute s personal in a dark dark house focuses on the many effects of sexual abuse and the way society might be.
Helmer labute, aside from switching the gender of the bad guy, offers nothing new in this clone of in the company of men. Neil labute has a thing about beauty the new york times. Shape of things script by neil labute starring rachel. In his thoughtful film the shape of things, writerdirector neil labute demonstrates these truths masterfully through the choices and fates of his characters. He meets the anarchist and transgressor student of arts evelyn ann thompson trying to paint a penis in an important statue, and after arguing with her, in the end they schedule a dinner. The shape of things, by neil labute someone monoblogging. Neil labutes plays include bash, reasons to be happy, the money shot, and the way we get by. Paul rudd stars as adam, a shy, nerdy english student and museum guard. Per evelyns suggestions, he began to change for the better until he finds out his entire existence has been molded as part of her masters thesis. Adam sorenson is a simple, insecure and shy student that works half period as a security guard of a museum and in a rental. Neil labute is an american film director, screenwriter and playwright. Ive always been that way but its no great big deal to meif anything, its worked against me for most of my life. Paul rudd, an actor and labutes friend, says he believes that neil is fascinated by the. The shape of things challenges societys most deeply entrenched ideas about art, manipulation, and love.
Neil labutes the shape of things, 2002, focus features. After last years production of the award winning bash see link below at the almeida, neil labute s new play the shape of things, which the author directs, is a mustsee. Its also about art, about friendship and love and hate nad the things going this these things. The actors dont bow at the end of neil labutes the shape of things, which says something about the shape of an evening that doesnt want a curtain call to interrupt the inevitable. The difference, plotwise, is the conspiracy between the men to denigrate their female victim is replaced by the lone gunman character of evelyn. The shape of things neil labute broadway play publishing inc pf5v 0. When art wounds a brutal playwright explains himself. The shape of things opens in a museum, where evelyn rachel weisz and adam paul rudd meet cute. He is a 20 recipient of a literature award from the american academy of arts and letters. This play is all about the twist, and im going to give it away in the paragraph below because its relevant if. This play is all about the twist, and im going to give it away in the paragraph below because its relevant if not necessary to the monologue. Catching her niel the act, they discuss the pros and cons of censorship, the shape of things neil labute script with one another and set up a date later in the week.