Lobby Hero

B+

Second Stage has acquired and renovated the Helen Hayes Theater, now called just The Hayes Theater, as a Broadway home for plays by living American playwrights.  As their first offering, they have chosen to revive Kenneth Lonergan’s (This Is Our Youth, The Waverly Gallery) 2001 dramedy about four blue-collar New Yorkers in 1999. Jeff (Michael Cera; This Is Our Youth) is a sad sack security guard who has the night shift in the lobby of a Manhattan apartment building. William (Brian Tyree Henry; The Book of Mormon, The Fortress of Solitude) is his boss, an African-American with a strict moral code, who has tried to mentor Jeff. Bill (Chris Evans; "Captain America") is an arrogant policeman who frequently interrupts work for a visit to a lady on the 22nd floor. Dawn (Bel Powley; Arcadia, "A Royal Night Out") is his admiring partner, a rookie still in her probationary period on the force, whom he shamefully manipulates. William is faced with a moral dilemma when his brother, accused of murder, asks him to be his alibi. Lying is against his morals, but he is reluctant to expose his brother to an incompetent lawyer and a hostile justice system. Smitten by Dawn, Jeff disabuses her of false notions about Bill, causing a rift in the partners’ relationship. When Jeff learns about William’s attempt to save his brother, he must decide whether to be a good friend or a good citizen. Lonergan has a wonderful ear for dialogue and the fine cast serves him well. The first act provides a good introduction to the characters and their conflicting goals. The second act is a bit of a letdown as the actions become a bit formulaic. The three supporting actors are excellent. Although Evans is primarily known as a comic book superhero in film and Powley’s stage experience has been primarily in England, they both seem perfectly at home playing New Yorkers. I have some reservations about Cera. The role of Jeff lies too snugly within his comfort zone and he does not bring anything fresh to it. David Rockwell’s (She Loves Me, Kinky Boots) revolving set provides the essentials of a lobby and the street outside. Paloma Young’s (Peter and the Starcatcher, Bandstand) costumes look like the appropriate uniforms of the period. Trip Cullman (Six Degrees of Separation, Punk Rock) directs with assurance. I wish that Cera brought more freshness to the role and that the second act were more satisfying. Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy and the production provides an auspicious launch for Second Stage’s Broadway expansion. Running time: two hours 25 minutes, including intermission.

A few words about The Hayes Theater: David Rockwell’s interior is generally attractive although I was less than captivated by the very blue pointillist version of a tapestry adorning the walls. I am happy to report that the legroom, at least in center orchestra, is an improvement over Second Stage’s Terry Kiser Theater. Unfortunately, the armrests once again seem to be unusually narrow, so that you feel too close to the person next to you. The stage is rather high, so I do not recommend sitting in the first few rows.