The set is very simple with Anna Reddyhoff’s lighting in different colours to show different locations but the locations aren’t really important.  The acting performances are tremendous with Amber Anderson’s stage debut being memorable.  As Evelyn she changes Adam’s appearance also empowering him because he has a gorgeous girlfriend and changing his posture from self effacing fidgeter to someone with more confidence.  Luke Newton tackles this transformation admirably and believably; we have to imagine his large nose.   

Luke’s two friends before he meets Evelyn are Jenny (Carla Harrison-Hodge) his long term crush and classmate, and frat boy, the over confident Phillip (Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy).  They serve to remind Phillip of who he was before falling under Evelyn’s influence.  

The night I saw this play in 2001 there was a different kind of audience statement.  In between scenes there was very loud music from The Smashing Pumpkins and two audience members walked out with hands over their ears.  They were Harold Pinter and Lady Antonia, and this was an insensitive action from someone whose own early plays had been reviled, on another playwright’s opening night.  

Although this play is 22 years old, it is as relevant and biting today. They have chosen to keep its original setting of 1999.  Neil LaBute has made a few alterations and added some new jokes.  Don’t miss it!