The CSU East Bay Department of Theatre and Dance’s winter musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” opened this past weekend as a comedic tribute to those who have dared to be in love.
Under the direction of Theatre professor Darryl V. Jones, the cast of 12 acted out 26 mini-skits with no specific plot line but united in one theme, namely particular moments in romantic relationships, from the awkwardness of a first date to the nerves felt on a wedding day, and from having your first baby to dealing with a painful divorce.
An interesting element of the show is how it pokes fun at stereotypes in relationships. Not only was the cast able to do that in a humorous fashion, but also their performances were also well done and accurate.
An example is the “We Had It All” scene, where Sami Jo Guida and Steven Ennis rush through the stages of a short-term relationship such as the first date, the first kiss, the arguments, the break-up and that awkward moment where the former significant other is seen with a new love interest.
The “Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love With You?” scene was as straightforward as its title and very touching. While Allison Mathisen’s character is occupied, Ennis’ character sings about the perception that married couples should be less in love at this point in their lives, and yet his ever-strong feelings prove that perception wrong.
In between the musical numbers, there were particular skits that kept the audience constantly laughing. One example was that of Nick Tarabini’s character, who at first wants to see a violent movie rather than his date’s choice (Angelica Edwards) of a chick flick, but in the end winds up crying into her lap anyway.
Another is a mini infomercial on the benefits of having a lawyer present while having sexual relations.
There were some scenes that were really irrelevant and didn’t really have a place for being in the show at all, an example being the “Scared Straight” scene, which depicts two individuals deciding to get married due to the influence of a mass murderer, who is a guest speaker at a dating group. In a show where it depicts moments in romantic relationships, that scene in particular seemed completely out of place.
Between every couple of scenes, 30-second partner dances were performed, and while some of them were really enjoyable to watch, some of the others were just really random and not well executed.
Beyond the acting, the lighting was well done as it set the tone for each scene in an effective manner. As for the stage set, while it was symbolic in every way of romantic relationships, with pictures of hearts and rings, the colors appeared a bit juvenile.
While it seemed intended to give off the light-hearted, playful energy of the musical, in some way it appeared a little too playful.
Overall, the show was well executed. The cast is truly a group of triple threats that provided a great performance.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” is worth anyone’s time for a comedic look on love that almost anyone can relate to.
