After being assaulted by Simon Mendes da Costa's
Losing Louie for two relentless acts, I had a vision of Manhattan Theatre Club subscribers massing in front of the Biltmore, shouting for their money back while wielding signs reading "Phooey on Louie" and "Louie Is a Loser." Indeed, for much of the comedy -- which was first performed at London's Hampstead Theater in January 2005 -- I thought there was no excuse whatsoever for it being presented by any reputable company. But during the work's final stretch, and I do mean "s-t-r-e-e-e-e-t-c-h," a partial reconciliation occurs between two long-estranged brothers that the MTC powers-that-be must have believed gives the piece a touch of gravitas[...]