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“What is art?” is one of those questions that’s difficult to answer. Each person answers it a little differently, but is something art solely because the artist says it is?

That’s the question Kansas University alumnus Neil LaBute raises in “The Shape of Things,” presented by KU’s University Theatre as part of the 50th anniversary of Murphy Hall. The answer isn’t easy to come by.

Shy and nervous Adam (Adam R. Burnett) meets MFA candidate Evelyn (Kelsie DeNaze Clark) when she’s about to deface a sculpture at the art gallery where he works part time. He’s intrigued by her and summons the courage to ask her out. What he doesn’t know is she has plans to remake him into a completely new person.

Over the course of the play, he changes drastically from a socially inept, unattractive loser with a sharp wit and broad knowledge of literature to a sexy, confidant man — who is much more morally ambiguous. It isn’t until the transformation is complete that he discovers he is the subject of her master’s thesis.

Burnett gives a brilliant performance as Adam. His physical mannerisms convey the nervousness of his early character perfectly and soften as the metamorphosis occurs. His speech is clipped and short at first, gradually becoming more easygoing as the play goes on. It’s hard to believe it’s the same actor from start to finish.

Clark is marvelously cruel as Evelyn, particularly in the second act when her intentions become more suspect. Matthew Crooks and Cali Gilman give strong performances as Phillip and Jenny, Adam’s friends that Evelyn seeks to alienate from him.

Directed by KU alumnus Jack Wright, the play moves along swiftly. A sparse set with minimal set pieces accompanied by clever lighting to suggest place gives it the feel of a canvas onto which the audience can project its own interpretation of the scene. Changes occur by a giant revolving platform that moves us seamlessly from one location to the next.

LaBute’s script, though, really drives the show. Clever, witty, and filled with pop cultural and literary references, it’s smart writing that breezes along easily, allowing us to be drawn into the action. He weaves the plot as subtly as Evelyn’s manipulation of Adam until, toward the end, we can see what’s going to happen and react in horror.

LaBute is smart enough to recognize there are no easy answers to the questions he raises. He leaves the audience to draw its own conclusions. But beyond the question of what is art are harder ones about what is ethical, what does friendship mean, and what is love.

“The Shape of Things” is a thought-provoking, difficult play that raises a lot of questions without succumbing to easy answers.

“You and I can think completely different things (about what art is), and we can both be right,” Evelyn claims. Thanks to solid execution of a perfect script, we’re left wondering whether even this is true.

John R. Phythyon Jr. is a freelance writer living in Lawrence. Read more of his work at www.johnphythyon.com.