Themes of creation and manipulation set the stage for relationship troubles in Neil LaBute’s 2001 play, “The Shape of Things,” which opened Friday night at the Prism Theatre Company.

Theater senior Ross Gosla directed the production in his first full-length directing venture for the Prism Theatre Company, a student-driven company supported by the Herberger School of Theatre and Film.
“The play asks three big questions,” Gosla said. “What is art, what is love and what is truth?”

Gosla said he hopes that through his direction, audiences will discern his answers to those questions, while taking away meaning of their own.

The play centers on the relationship between Adam, an English literature major “emphasizing in student loans,” and Evelyn, an MFA student and proclaimed artistic prodigy.

The characters’ biblical names are no coincidence, as Adam and Evelyn meet before a statue of God in the museum where Adam works. Evelyn is preparing to deface (or repair, if she has anything to say about it) the sculpture.

Throughout the course of his new relationship, Adam, always with an air of unassuming inexperience, changes his appearance and habits, much to his friends’ dismay.

Prism’s University performance space is an appropriate venue for LaBute’s play, as the production focuses on relationships college students find themselves in — early engagements marked with uncertainty, roommate ties gone sour and romances that give the shy a newfound confidence. The emphasis on these relationships makes the play swiftly relevant for a student audience.

The plot has a thought provoking, even heart-wrenching twist that leaves the audience wanting to kick and scream at a clueless hero and a cleverly disguised villain.

This cathartic affect is in part a testament to the actors’ delivery — whether through their quick retorts or scathing glances.

The actors also get a chance to stretch their characters’ legs in spotlight monologues between scenes — all except Stephen Kass, who plays Adam. Rather, the spotlight scenes focus on Kass’s character.

The cast is often stronger in these individual scenes than when together in dialogue. Michelle Chin in particular gives a convincing performance as the sweetly awkward Jenny who provides insight into the comfortably bashful pre-Evelyn Adam.

Kass may not have had the chance to deliver a spotlight monologue, but his final scene conveys striking emotional depth from a promising young actor.

As the characters evolve throughout the play, it’s evident the actors are growing too, even their comfort by the end of the play contrasts from their stiff opening scenes.

The eager youthfulness of the cast is entirely appropriate for the play, which deals heavily with human naivety.

Each character’s apparent vulnerability and unpredictable progressions compel the audience to not only witness LaBute’s discussion of human nature, but to also become a part of it.

“The Shape of Things” runs about two hours, including a 10-minute intermission. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., Sept. 25-27. Tickets are available at prismtheatre.org.

Reach the reporter at jessica.testa@asu.edu.