The Shape of Things

Thu.-Fri., Aug. 7-8, 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Aug. 9-10, 3 and 8 p.m., $20, Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, 215-735-0630, playsandplayers.org.

by Julia Terruso

theater

The Shape of Things, which premiered at London's Almeida Theatre in 2001 and was made into a movie in 2003, is a love story between Evelyn, a beautiful, ballsy art student, and Adam, the geeky boyfriend whose life she transforms for better or worse. Themes of manipulation, psychopathy and trust in relationships all surface. When Evelyn seduces Adam, her sexual and emotional influence prompts him to change who he is — physically and emotionally. Cue the play's tagline: "Seduction is an art form."

A dark twist ending is likely to make audiences squirm. And since seating is onstage — Laratonda wanted to take full advantage of the intimacy of the show — there's no easy exit. "To me, this play is about the way people view art," Laratonda says. "What is it? And what's its place in society?"

Thu.-Fri., Aug. 7-8, 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Aug. 9-10, 3 and 8 p.m., $20, Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, 215-735-0630, playsandplayers.org.