BEAUTIFIED: 75% – BITTERSWEET

Rob Brownstein, Karen Austin and Joanna Strapp in “Beautified”. Credit: Ed Krieger.

BITTERSWEET
With a running time of almost two hours, either an intermission or, better yet, some judicious trimming by director Jenny Sullivan (even in Candy’s tear-inducing closing monologue) would make for a more perfectly coifed tale of the two friends.
Gil Kaan – Culture Spot LA

BITTER
These are too many topics for one play to handle. One of the results of this was that I had a hard time believing the characters. People don’t talk the way these characters do in the play, at least the people I know.
Robert Machray – Blog Critics

BITTERSWEET
Perhaps Abatemarco can streamline what could be an important examination of the true nature of friendship without trying to crowd in so much.
Travis Michael Holder – Backstage

SWEET
Abatemarco’s simply beautiful dramedy, is both a love letter to his brother, the play’s subject, and a poignant tribute to a long-term, platonic relationship between a man and a woman.
Pauline Adamek – LA Weekly

SWEET
It is a lovingly rendered work that largely succeeds in spite of a few issues.
Andrew Moore – MadTheatrics

SWEET
Directed by Jenny Sullivan, the three actors were a pleasure to experience. They appear so natural that it is difficult to call what they do acting.
Harvey Sid Fisher – Hollywood Today

SWEET
It’s worth seeing, as director Jenny Sullivan has paced it well and allowed all three of the actors (let’s let the wigs go to sleep now) their talented head-winds.
Dale Reynolds – Stagehappenings

BITTERSWEET
The problem with Beautified is that Mike and Candy’s problems are unconvincingly presented.
Cynthia Citron – LA Examiner

BITTERSWEET
Cate Caplin’s choreography, although charming, can’t provide the missing chemistry. Their truest moment is their falling out over a trivial disagreement, the kind you never think will destroy a friendship until it has.
Margaret Gray – LA Times

SWEET
You should discover for yourself how this troupe takes you on their journey. There were a lot of laughs and a few tears of recognition in the audience; yes, I heard your sniffles.
Ceebs Bailey – LASplash

SWEET
Currently onstage at the Skylight Theatre, Beautified, despite its accentuation of the exterior, offers a journey of dynamic interior proportions.
Don Grigware – BroadwayWorld

BITTER
I was more than prepared to be persuaded that playwright Tony Abatemarco’s late brother, a hairdresser by trade, was a warm person and fine friend, but this clunky, inept tribute play never met me halfway.
Bob Verini – ArtsInLa

BEAUTIFIED
Presented by the Katselas Theatre Company
At Skylight Theatre
1816 N. Vermont Ave., L.A.
EXTENDED THROUGH JULY 22, 2012; Fri., Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.
Tickets: (702) 582-8587