Once again, The Black Box Theatre in downtown Moline has pulled off an opening night standing ovation for its current production of: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, a musical comedy with book and lyrics by Joe DePietro, music by Jimmy Roberts and directed by BBT’s co-founder David Miller. It’s the second-longest running Off-Broadway production, was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Off-Broadway musical in 1997, and has been translated into 17 languages. Indeed, as soon as I got home on Friday, I texted my sister-in-law that if this show ever came to a theatre in the Scottsdale area: “GO!”
Presented in a series of musical vignettes it covers literally every stage of love that you can possibly imagine from that ultra-awkward first date to elderly trolling funeral visitations to pick up a gal. All these stages are mercilessly honest. in some places anatomically explicit, and endlessly funny, although tucked in between the laughs like little nuggets of nostalgia are touching and tender ballads. I guarantee you will find at least one vignette, but likely more, with which you can relate.
An ensemble cast of six amazing actors portray a plethora of characters. And by “actors” I emphasize that not only do they lend incredible vocal talent to their songs, their characters are nuanced and individual to every scene. They are: Abby Bastian, Tyler Henning, Kathryn Jecklin, Kirsten Sindelar, Chris Tracy, and Tommy Ratkiewicz. I was especially impressed with Henning’s and Bastian’s scene “I Can Live with That,” they nailed the elderly couple at a funeral home and, as a parent with a son who went through three engagements (third time being the charm) I really related to Tracy’s and Jecklin’s number “And Now the Parents.”
While most of these performers are well-known excellent performers in the Quad Cities, relative newcomer Ratkiewicz has taken QCA stages by storm since early July with back-to-back performances from Countryside Community Theatre’s Guys and Dolls to BBT’s Puffs, Come from Away, and now this current production. He is, without doubt, a gem of an asset to our area and I hope to see more of him.
Kudos to all for the jet propelled, complete costume changes, many with very little time between scenes, that kept the pacing of the show running like clockwork and this is yet another show with live rather than recorded music. Music Director Randin Letendre and band didn’t miss the proverbial beat.
The set for this show is sort of unimpressive consisting of black panels that, to be honest, aren’t well-constructed, and a small platform that looks like it was dry brushed with red paint but, in reality, the performance is so impressive that the background fades into obscurity.
I really, really, really enjoyed this show. It had me laughing out loud during the “And Now the Parents” scene, a little misty during the “Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love with You?” scene, and waxed nostalgic during “I Can Live with That.” So, just like my advice to my sister-in-law…GO!!
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 – 5th Avenue in Moline, October 16,17, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday October 18 at 2:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.