Saturday, May 4, 2013

I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE




Presented by Queanbeyan City Council.

The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre until 5th May.

Reviewed by Bill Stephens.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is the second production seen at the Q of this witty, perceptive slice- of- life musical revue which premiered off-Broadway in 1996 and achieved a run of over 5000 performances before closing in 2008. “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” explores, through a series of songs and vignettes about being single, dating, marriage, loss and heartbreak, the tribulations of pre-internet heterosexual romance.
For this production, director Stephen Pike has gathered  an accomplished cast all of whom  impress with their ability to create a collection of funny, colourful and quirky characters to breathe fresh  life into situations which occasionally seem a bit cliché and dated.  

Among this versatile cast, Krystal Innes displays impressive vocal abilities in “I will Be Loved Tonight”, as does Christine Forbes with “Always a Bridesmaid”.   Jenna Roberts provides many highlights among which are her poignant monologue, “The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz”, and her exuberant duet with Dave Evans, “Marriage Tango”.  Nick Valois shares his best moment with a teddy bear, and Greg Sollis demonstrates unsuspected talents as a stud.  
 
Consistently witty direction by Stephen Pike, sensitive accompaniment by Lucy Bermingham assisted by  Vanessa Driver and Jason Henderson, combined with Brian Sudding’s  cheerful, abstract set design  adds a professional burnish to this delightfully entertaining show  which is marred only by the clumsy scene changes that constantly interrupt its flow.