I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Multi-scene musical revue. Book/lyrics Joe di Pietro. Music Jimmy Roberts. Musical direction Tersia Harley. Direction Sheila McCormick. Presented by Milnerton Players. At Milnerton Playhouse until 9 December.
SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews.
During Sheila McCormick’s illustrious career as singer, dancer, director, committee member and odd job person, she’s proven an invaluable asset to Milnerton Players. In this, her latest (ad)venture – directing Jimmy Robert’s revue to Joe di Pietro’s libretto – she’s added another gold star to her (already) large collection.
60 characters over 20 scenes
Among McCormick’s talents is her knack for choosing excellent staging material. Then delivering a production as detailed and disciplined as any top professional company. In fact, having seen professional productions of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (ILY,YP,NC), McCormick’s cast and direction outstripped those.
Performed on Fin McCormick’s, well lit, simple tiered set, upstage centre back sat accomplished musical director Tersia Harley on piano. While stage hands Tania Lemme and Michelle Bailie efficiently rearranged furniture to alter time frames; backstage, dressers Tanya King and Frauke Ehlig assisted Neil Leachman, Christian Marais, Fiona Tanner and Christine Thonissen’s multiple costume switches. Wearing Judith Herbig and Michelle Bailie’s scene appropriate costumes – between the foursome, they played 60 characters over 20 scenes.
ILY,YP,NC, is a series of unrelated vignettes. Yet it chronologically follows age-related experiences. Starting with the dating game, through marriage, babies and picking up life after a partner’s death ILY,YP,NC could be disjointed. Except the team’s superb acting and singing ensure the episodes flow snappily from one to the other.
In spite of Robert’s atonal music and Pietro’s slightly below the belt language, ILY,YP,NC is rated among Broadway’s longest running hits. And this cast’s witty, amusing and outstanding characterisations should draw crowds to Milnerton Playhouse.
Ends on a high, happy note
Look out for Tanner and Thonissen’s Single Man Drought; Why? ‘Cause I’m a Guy (Leachman and Marais); Marais and Thonissen’s Lasagna Incident and Thonissen’s I Will Be Loved Tonight. Backed by amusing visuals the first act’s highlights were the company’s And Now The Parents, Cantata Reprise and Wedding Vows. Top marks in the second act go to Tanner when, in a hideous green satin dress, she belted out Always a Bridesmaid. The Family That Drives Together brought the house down; Leachman’s rendering of Shouldn’t I Be Less In Love With You invoked a sense of poignancy. As did Marais’s elderly man courting of Tanner in Funerals Are For Dating. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change ends on a warm, high, happy note. Most notable being the audience left smiling… I still am.
What: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Where: Milnerton Playhouse
When: Until 9 December, 2017
Evening performances: 1, 2, 8, 9 December, 2017, 8pm
Matinees: 2, 9 December, 2.30pm
Tickets: R100 evenings, R90 matinees with the usual concessions
Book: www.milnertonplayers.com, 082 267 1061
WS
