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I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, by Joe Di Pietro & Jimmy Roberts 30 April to 22 May 2004 Directed & Choreographed by Simone de Haas Musical Direction by Brett Fahey Cast List Review Rave Revue Brett Debritz - Brisbane News - 12 May 2004 Think "musical" and the immediate impression is of a huge, dazzling show with an all-singing, all-dancing cast raising the roof of the Lyric Theatre. And that, combined with its episodic nature, is why the deliciously titled I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is billed as a "revue" rather than a musical. But if you love musical comedies, you really should see this boutique production which features just four performers and two musicians, but a heck of a lot of heart and soul, and more than a few genuine belly laughs. Like a fine diamond on an engagement ring, Love… Perfect… Change is small but (almost) perfectly formed. And, like all good theatre, it talks directly to (almost) all of us about our life experiences - in this case, of love and related romantic adventures. The original production has, apparently, been running in New York's off-Broadway theatre district for the best part of a decade. It's no surprise that this universally appealing show is being presented in Brisbane by Mixed Company, the profit-share theatre group that has been wowing audiences for the past 10 years with commercial quality productions of farces, comedies and small-scale musicals. Mixed Company has repeatedly triumphed in that important middle ground between amateur and fully professional theatre where ticket prices are kept down but the quality is turned right up. Artistic Director Simone de Haas seems to have an unfaltering eye and ear for what will work in Brisbane, especially in the Cement Box Theatre. The cast, Arlie McCormick, Vicki Devon, Chris Herden and Brian Edmond play dozens of characters of all ages and backgrounds in comic vignettes around the central theme. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship will recognise these characters and the concepts here - the nervous suitor, the doomed-from-the-start relationship, the disappointed parents, squabbling kids in the back of the car, and love in the twilight years (begun, of all places, in a funeral home). De Haas has wisely chosen to keep the American flavour of the show - "Australianising" it would have meant losing some of the amusing nuances while gaining nothing in return. It's difficult to choose a standout among the performers because they are all very good, they have big voices and great comic timing, and they each have their big moment in the spotlight. So too do musical director and pianist Brett Fahey, and talented violinist Alice Shi, a classically trained musician who obviously enjoys playing lighter fare. Despite the many demanding costume changes and many minor adjustments to the deceptively simple wedding-cake-inspired set, it all ran like clockwork on opening night. Well done, again, to Mixed Company for bringing Brisbane audiences a mainstream and quite magical musical. Sorry, revue. |
