“It isn't an uplifting evening's entertainment, but it is extremely well executed.” By Chris Lilly, Mar 11
PLAYOff-WECLOSED
America the Beautiful: Chapter 1
Opened Mar 9, 2026 · Closed Mar 14, 2026 · Ran for less than a month
1 Positive
1 Mixed
3 Negative
Critics' Take
LaBute's bleak trilogy of short plays draws mostly negative reviews for its misanthropic cynicism and unsympathetic characters, with critics finding the provocative premise more sour than risky despite a confident cast.
This show has closed. Tickets are no longer available.
Critic Scorecard
5 reviews1 Positive
1 Mixed
3 Negative
Sort:
Weighted by outlet tier · Counts
- Tier 1: 100%
- Tier 2: 75%
- Tier 3: 40%
- Tier 4: 20%
“Confident performances deliver a clear production of the three half-hour plays, but the characters lack depth, and the storylines are slight.” By Keith Mckenna, Mar 13
“There’s still a fundamental hollowness to the writing.” By Tom Wicker, Mar 11 · 2/5 stars
“Though his writing aims for savagery, this trio – previously staged in the US – leave little more than a faint mark.” By Kate Wyver, Mar 12 · 2/5 stars
“Characters who operate at this level of ineptitude are very hard to sympathise with.” By Lloyd Evans, Mar 19
