Lobby Hero: A Play

by Kenneth Lonergan

Nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, Lobby Hero tells the story of Jeff, a luckless young security guard trying to get his life together after being thrown out of the navy. But the lobby proves to be no sanctuary from the world, as Jeff is drawn into a local murder investigation involving his supervisor, a tightly wound young man called upon to bear witness against his troubled brother, and a rookie policewoman who is in over her head with her seasoned but unscrupulous hero-cop partner. As Ben Brantley writes in the New York Times , “Motives come in every shade but black and white,” creating “a combustible brew of impulses.”

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, American, Comedy, 21st Century, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2002

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Kenneth Lonergan through a couple of his movies, including Manchester By the Sea, which pretty much blew me away away, and I recently read This is Our Youth, which I liked very much for its dialogue and characterization in spite of the fact that the characters are teenaged rich kids going nowhere. It's kind of nevertheless exhilarating in its own way, calling to mind language/dialogue masters who explore contemporary train wreck lives: Harold Pinter, David Mamet, Sam Shepherd.

I liked this one slightly less than Youth, but it also has great characters, though this time working class ones: Jeff, a kind of goofy, talks-too-much hotel security guard, white, working for a black guy named William whose brother may have committed a serious crime. Jeff also talks to new cop Michelle, whose partner she sort of likes (and has slept with) and who she discovers sees a prostitute in Jeff's hotel while she waits in the lobby (Jeff tells her). Michelle also hurt a guy a couple weeks ago on the job and she could be in trouble for it. And there's more layers of moral complications, too.

You get the idea: The territory is moral dilemmas and how complicated this idea of doing the right thing really is. Michelle and Jeff kinda become friends but their commitment to "doing the right thing" in their separate situations could get them mired in deep waters. Along the way issues of sexism, sexual assault, loyalty, racial justice, police brutality, and other things get explored. Police brutality, racism, sexism, and sexual assault t2002 play, revived on Broadway 2018 (featuring Michael Cera and Chris Evans) and still relevant. As I said I like This is Our Youth better, but this has humor and drama and great dialogue in it.

[Taylor Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely well written play that toes the line between comedy and drama expertly- tons of juicy scenes and meat for actors to dig into, and 4 great and complex characters. Although written 15 years ago the themes of this play and their presentation are extremely relevant. Police brutality, racism, sexism, and sexual assault that have been so prevalent in the media within the last year are all on display. Moral dilemma drives the action of the play but sometimes takes a backseat to the almost-too-awkward-to-be-charming mouth vomit of the protagonist Jeff and his possible budding romance with Dawn, the brave, scrappy, and determined rookie police officer. A very nice script that just misses going far enough to blow me away.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense look at life, loyalty, work ethic, and relationships, with a touch of humor.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting approach to the "action" taking place at the hotel. I truly appreciated the insight into the characters' lives while still addressing the outside situation.

[Kern · Rating 3 out of 5]

I logged these Lonergan plays separately because, especially after being mildly disappointed by the first one, I anticipated different reactions to each. But ultimately, they’re all much thinner than I expected from one of the best modern screenwriters, lacking the thematic, narrative, and character depth I come to expect from Lonergan. This one might be the best of the bunch, just by virtue of being relatively unconventional, but it’s still fairly pedestrian and insubstantial in my book.

[jociet101 · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good going to reread like asap

[Megan Wicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific scene study!! Every single scene could be pulled and studied independently. Strong, fully fleshed out characters with flaws and insight. Everyone said something intriguing, everyone pissed me off. I really loved this play, themes are relevant today over a decade later.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the humor and natural dialogue, as well as the simplicity of the setting, and the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of the theme. It was worth the read, as the four characters are well-written, and the concepts and themes remain timely even almost two decades later. I would have been interested to see its 2018 Broadway revival in order to gain more perspective of how Dawn's role in this play is interpreted: Of whether she is really just an objectified plot device to serve the other male characters' motivations, or if the opposite is true and she is an individual and significant character in her own effect and the portrayal of which necessitates the attendance of a live production. In any case, more alive non-male characters could have been present in the play to flesh out the relationship between gender-and-power dynamics to truth-and-morals.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not think I was going to like this. Namely because the copy I got has Michael Cera on the cover and I am LESS than a fan. Knowing he played the role of Jeff going into reading made it impossible for me not to picture him talking. That being said I actually found it quite good and the unfortunate casting fits as Jeff is what I would expect from a Michael Cera character.

Jeff works as a security guard. He has no life and he is a gossip queen. Throughout the play he titters back and forth with a questionable moral compass about things going on around him. None of the situations actually involve him but he forces himself in and causes chaos. Each character is repugnant in his or her own way and each is passably redeemable. I feel that even while annoying, all the characters are real and relatable. I would love to see this performed (even if Cera was billed).

[Trevor Durham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lonergan creates great characters, his dialogue was layered and hilarious, but his female character could be completely removed. His show lacks what Nilo Cruz called 'magic' or 'spirit', and was too realistic in the fashion of being droll. Why, his characters experience no growth or development from lights up to bows! It feels so empty and devoid of meaning that it becomes forgettable to the average theatre goer upon leaving their seat. I wanted so badly to enjoy this, and the revisions do it well, but I wanted more.

[EJ Paras · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Kenneth Lonergan play that I've read, after being a fan of his mostly through his film work such as Manchester by the Sea. Goodness, Lobby Hero is tremendous. I am so happy that I was assigned a scene from this play for my scene study class. I'd kill (maybe not the time to use this expression) for a part like Jeff. My middle name is Jeff! Imagining Michael Cera play this role was fun, and he got nominated for a Tony for it. But when I perform the scene with my partner Liz for the first time tomorrow at our class, I won't be invoking Cera but rather me, and how I'd tackle this role. A character who finds himself objectively in the middle of two deceptively-complex scenarios where everyone has a Chekhov's gun to an extent -- knowledge of the truth.

But it's like what Tom Wambsgans says in Succession: "information's like a bottle of wine; you store it, and then smash it on someone's fucking head when it suits you" -- I'm paraphrasing, but it's something like that.

“My whole life I’ve told the truth. I always tell the truth. Because I believe in that, OK? You don’t worry about if the world is bad or good, because I know goddamn well it’s bad. You just do your best and let the chips fall where they may."

This play is so insightful to the human experience. Why we tell the truth, why we lie. It's gray! It depends, doesn't it? It depends who for. It depends how much leverage you have, if at all. I mean, in a utopia, we wouldn't need to lie at all. But we aren't in a utopia, and humans have feelings and humans have flaws. The system's stacked against women like Dawn who work in the male-dominated police force; the system's stacked against Black men like William and his brother -- in a world where it's all too common for overworked defense lawyers assigned to 200 of the same type of case; confusing clients because they all "look the same."

“How are you supposed to know if you’re right and everybody else is wrong, or if you’re just wreckin’ your own chances?”
“I wouldn’t know. I never tried to do anything before.”

It's kind of a depressing look, what I've written about so far and what I've emphasized... but would you believe me if I said the whole thing is very funny? Act Two is considerably less funny than Act One, but some of Chekhov's guns firing off in the second act had me cackling by myself as I was reading at the unbearable cringe.

“I hate bachelor parties. Bunch of guys sitting around some apartment drinking beer and watching porno movies — it makes me sick, it really just disgusts me.”
“I thought all guys liked porno movies.”
“Well, we do. It’s just the thought of all these guys together, sitting around doing this stuff that makes me uncomfortable.”

Such an intelligent, insightful play of the human experience, all happening over the course of a few nights during the night shift of a desk security guard (get it right, he's not a doorman) and the people he encounters. The dialogue is TREMENDOUS. Not a second wasted. I'd love to see a staging of this. Excited to perform my scene (which is relatively light, but I have such a better grasp of Jeff's insecurities after now finishing the whole play) with my scene partner Liz as Dawn.

[Zora · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2023, I've reading all the Pulitzer winning plays--or listening to them as a play--that my library has. This, like Proof is another winner in my book, as well. There are four characters here: a night security guy who got booted from the Navy, his boss, a generation older, and two cops they interact with. Well written and acted, both. (He also wrote the movies Gangs of New York, which I loved more than most people, and Manchester by the Sea, which I haven't seen yet.)

There are two moral dilemmas presented here The play starts off pretty funny, and there are laughs throughout, but it is seriocomic, with a serious, deep issue being explored in the last act. I'd recommend seeing it live if you ever get the chance. If not, this audio book will do just fine.

[Abdul Alhazred · Rating 4 out of 5]

LATW version. The premise sounds ridiculous, but this is one of the best written plays I've experienced. What starts out as a clear comedic setup and is heavy on rapid fire, almost screwball dialogue, takes a turn toward the dramatic midway through, in a way that doesn't feel forced. It also doesn't feel like a lecture on ethics, but something that our 'Lobby Hero' genuinely just manages to stumble into. There's also an ambiguity about every participant in the play - everyone's just enough of a self-centered asshole that it's not a simple good versus evil story. Finding out the playwright is the same guy who wrote Manchester By The Sea made it all fall into place.

Excellent performances in this audio version, great timing, if anything the strong crowd reaction is almost a problem in overwhelming the performance.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jumping between brilliance and melodrama, Lobby Hero plays with some fascinating ideas – particularly the nature of loyalty – but never achieves its potential. That the lone female character feels less a character and more a plot device from which the male characters can react off of doesn’t help.

Also, for those wondering why you recognize the playwright’s name, Mr. Lonergan recently won an Academy Award for the screenplay for Manchester By the Sea.

Lobby Hero is so close to being thought provoking. While it is good and would likely make for a decent night of theatre, the play annoys me because it is so close to being knock-your-socks-off fantastic but comes up a few inches short. Quasi-recommended.

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5


I saw this play on Broadway last year and loved it, so I decided to revisit and read it. It’s such an enjoyable quick read. The way it goes from drama to comedy and back to drama in the same breath is impressive. I don’t believe the characters go through much growth. I wish they did, but that’s ok because this is life. A lot of us go through crap that should stretch us and make us learn from our own experiences, yet we don’t. I liked the theme of loyalty and understanding when we should draw the line. I want to read more writing by Kenneth Lonergan.

[amyblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

i saw this on broadway two years ago and recently decided to read the script. if i hadn’t seen the show i probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. there are some plays that are just as good or better read, but this one is definitely better seen. that isn’t to say that this is a boring read, not at all. the characters are definitely the focus here and they’re each unique and if you’re an actor like me then you’ll have a ball picking them apart.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really hoped to “love” this script from the images provided and description.
But I did not.
And at the same time there is a terrific ‘Reveal’ scene in Act II where everything comes to a head with all 4 characters and I could feel the energy and image an audience would totally gobble it up if given the chance.
But the ending fell flattish to me.
Still, I’d go watch it be done On Stage just to see it and be sure.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with only 4 characters on stage. Two security guards and two cops. The interplay between the is a familiar dynamic if you have ever been part of a hierarchical network like the military or police, the spice is the police wanna be of the security guards and the interplay of powerful verses powerless. Several important people are crucial to the story, yet are never seen. The play is a struggle, gritty and often crude,as well as cruel. Can’t wait to see it.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a funny play with really interesting characters. I immediately took a liking to Jeff as the goofball who's aspiring to make a difference in the world. There were multiple times I laughed out loud and there are some very well written monologues throughout as well. The ending left me wanting a little more so that's why I gave it three stars.

[Mckayla Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

And that’s why we don’t talk to cops without a lawyer present. I’m sure there are some really uncomfortably upsetting productions of this. Often if one scene makes me feel torn between this aging extremely poorly and the next will make me feel it’s coming from a good place.

Idk. I just feel like I would be uncomfortable in a room with people who believed this was a laugh out loud comedy.

[KC Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this is our youth and figured I needed more Lonergan in my life. What I didn’t expect was to feel like I was reading one of the plays in my law and lit class. He discusses honor and duty and protecting our people when those with authority will sell you out for their own self promotion.

[Ava K · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good play that definitely explores some interesting topics. It definitely feels a bit like a man writing a woman in a situation that he has zero experience living, so I found some of Dawn's choices somewhat unrealistic.

[Jesse Kade Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a story! I’ve been woefully short on KL works for too long now. This play was phenomenal! Smart, sharp, and full of heart this play is very much a “what would you do?” The characters are interesting and the story is engaging. A must read.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play tackles some surprising moral issues considering the goofiness of the main character. Highly enjoyable.

[Kate Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

wonderful dialogue as per usual but this feels like three different plays randomly thrown together and i only really like one of them

[dkaufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Ricardo Cabrita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterly.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Funny, moving and actually hits on some really important topics. I really enjoyed this play.

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and engaging at the same time. The audio actors were excellent and I was deeply invested in the characters by the end.

[S G Akshaykumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great dialogue. Interesting conflict. Listened to the audio version. Liked it.