I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change is a cleverly-crafted musical by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts. The show consists of a sequence of vignettes, all of which revolve around the topic of relationships. It covers everything from first dates to marriage and child rearing. Sketches include 'marriage guidance from a mass-murderer, a family car trip to hell and tips on how to pick up a date at a funeral'.

This production by The'atricks Theatre Company does very little to stand up to the show's potential. The singing is rather poor on the whole. The best that the company can muster is to speak-sing most of the lines and then abruptly break into full-blown and slightly irritating belt any time they come near the upper part of their register. Even the musical director is a disappointment. The only saving grace is Larissa Webb whose vocals are proficient and even impressive at times.

The weak vocals aren't balanced out by phenomenal acting. The storyline of the show is fairly simple and does not consist of much more than a grouping of entertaining sketches with a similar through-line. But the company doesn't flesh out any of the scenes with fully-developed characters or relationships. The energy is good, but unspecific. Choreography is simple and poorly executed. Every joke is played as if it were a panto, missing the possibilities of what could have been quite a moving and meaningful piece of work.

Scenes are separated by unnecessary set changes conducted by slow-moving and superfluous technicians. All changes in this production could best left to the performers, which might help keep the show more fluid and the pace more brisk. Overall, it's an evening of un-engaging theatre, and thoroughly disappointing.

Running Order: Prologue (Company). Cantata for a First Date (Company). Busy, Busy, Busy (Sarah Coleman & Eric Whiting). A Stud and a Babe (Larissa Webb & Richard Cooper). Single Man Drought [This item might be omitted due to time constraints] (Sarah Coleman & Larissa Webb). Tear Jerk (Sarah Coleman & Eric Whiting). The Lasagne Incident (Larissa Webb & Richard Cooper). I Will Be Loved Tonight (Larissa Webb). Satisfaction Guaranteed (Company). He Called Me (Company). Scared Straight (Company). Wedding Vows (Company). Always a Bridesmaid (Sarah Coleman). Whatever Happened to Babys Parents (Larissa Webb, Richard Cooper & Eric Whiting). The Baby Song (Eric Whiting). Marriage Tango (Sarah Coleman & Richard Cooper). On the Highway of Love (Company). Cantata Reprise (Sarah Coleman & Eric Whiting). Shouldn't I Be Less in Love With You (Richard Cooper). Funerals are for Dating (Sarah Coleman & Eric Whiting). I Can Live With That (Sarah Coleman & Eric Whiting). Epilogue (Company).

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Performers: Sarah Coleman. Richard Cooper (MD). Larissa Webb. Eric Whiting. Keyboards: Huw Evans.

Company Credits: Book & Lyrics - Joe DiPietro. Composer - Jimmy Roberts. Director - Wendy Reynolds. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator - Ian Hamilton. Backstage Assistance - Jan Ho. Producer - uncredited. Company - Theatricks Theatre Company. Thanks To: John Leaper (Leaper & Co); Mal Hamilton (Welling Fireplaces).

END

(c) Carl Livesay 2010

reviewed Monday 23 August 2010 / C, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com