‘Reasons to be Pretty’ features couples’ ugly sides

First things first. There is a lot of swearing in “Reasons to be Pretty” at the Modern Theater in Spokane. A lot.

But “Reasons to be Pretty” is more than an f-bomb fest. Neil LaBute’s Tony-nominated play is an interesting look at Big Issues. Self-image. Objectification of women. Loyalty. Love. Hate. Denial. There’s yelling and violence. And ultimately, a hopeful ending.

The Modern production stars Ryan Shore as Greg and Molly Tage as Stephanie. They open the show with a raging fight. “I will pounce on you like death itself if you’re lying to me,” Stephanie screams at Greg, who is tongue-tied, defensive and defiant all at once. Turns out Greg was talking with his friend Kent (Nich Witham) one day and commented on Stephanie’s “regular” face. Kent’s wife Carly (Jennie Oliver) relayed this to Stephanie, who freaked out, shocked that her boyfriend of four years would think she was ugly. She takes his car and leaves.

Things aren’t so happy with Carly and Kent, either. Kent has his eye on the new girl at work, while he seems to have little regard for his wife beyond the look of her face and the shape of her body. She works as a security guard at the factory where Kent and Greg work, and they spend their evening dinner breaks sparring and chatting in the break room. Kent, as played by Witham, is one of those guys who has gotten by in life on the strength of his good luck and athletic body. He’s a player and a creep, the kind of guy who calls women – even the one he’s married to – by the most vulgar of phrases. Witham tackles this role with glee. He’s cocky, and he’s someone who sees nothing wrong with his views on women.

Greg is a reader, hauling around books by Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Shore portrays him as a bit of a sad sack. He’s a little schlubby and unable to say the right thing. He can’t articulate to Stephanie that he doesn’t see “regular” as an insult; that he loves her face. On opening night, it was a struggle at times to hear Shore, but it was the only flaw in his performance.

As Stephanie, Tage is tough and brittle at the same time. As Stephanie lets her own insecurities rage, it’s easy to see that ultimately, her decision to leave the relationship is best.

As for Carly, she’s got a lot of jagged edges. She enjoys pushing buttons and putting people down. But when her own life begins to fall down around her, she shows an emotional side that rings true. Oliver turns in a solid performance as this woman who isn’t all that likable.

The Modern production of “Reasons to be Pretty,” directed by Dawn Taylor Reinhardt, may not be as tough to watch as some of LaBute’s other works, but it’s hardly a walk in the park. Still, it’s tightly paced, and the cast brings real honesty to the conflict depicted within. That we get a happy ending for at least three of these sad characters – OK, a sorta happy ending – is all the better.