In a way, Neil LaBute has become a theatrical brand name. Buy a ticket to one of his plays and you can count on three things: great acting, probably with some movie stardust associated with the cast; a surprise twist at the climax; and a generally superior play. LaBute writes at a consistently high level, which is especially impressive since he's also quite prolific. (Earlier this summer, we witnessed Some Girls, and his recent oeuvre includes such works as Fat Pig and This Is How It Goes.)

His most recent effort, Wrecks, a one-person show starring Ed Harris, debuted last year in Ireland and has just made the transAtlantic crossing to The Public Theater. Not only is the piece exquisitely [...]