Lobby Hero

By Richard Zoglin

In the lobby of a New York City apartment building, four people--a flaky overnight security guard, his boss, a rookie female cop and her veteran partner--grapple with a murder investigation and issues of loyalty and betrayal. Lonergan, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter (You Can Count on Me) and playwright (This Is Our Youth, The Waverly Gallery) weaves an intriguing tale that keeps one glued to the stage for two hours. But too many sitcom-style laughs and contrived character twists betray this off-Broadway comedy-drama as a slick but disposable confection.

--R.Z.