Triangle Arts and Entertainment

Remember light-hearted romantic comedies? The ones where the guy woos the girl, they fight and break up over some secret, the girl leaves, the guy chases girl, the girl forgives guy, and they all live happily ever after? You know, the ones that would never actually play out like that in real life?

The long-running Off-Broadway hit, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, now playing at North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre, under the direction of Rob Outterson, is nothing like that. It is undoubtedly a comedy — with scenes that will leave you with tears of mirth in your eyes — but it is also a show that takes the long view of the trials and tribulations of finding that special someone out here in the real world.

There is no storyline per se; instead the musical consists of a series of vignettes about relationships, ranging from that first blind date, through marriage, divorce or death, and finally the renewed search for that second special someone. From the beginning, with four characters in robes chanting monk-like, it is apparent that this play does not take itself seriously, nor should you.

The show’s small cast has excellent voice and acting talent. Right from “Cantata for a First Date,” it is obvious that the actors and actresses’ voices were chosen to complement each other to produce that amazing hum that is present only when true harmony is achieved.

In the opening number, the combined voices of Jess Barbour, Lisa Kinlaw, Jon Todd, and Danny Dove blend together so well that it raises audience expectations for the ensuing two hours. They are not disappointed.

D.J. Curtis stuns the crowd with a break-out voice change in “A Stud and a Babe” that sends shivers down the spine as he hits note after note along a wide range with fabulous tone. It is gratifying to hear such a talent in a community-theater production. When the cast performs the title song a cappella at the close of the play, it is impossible to mistake the true talent present in this group.

Only a few things hold these players back from an all-out excellent performance. There is a tendency for some of the sustained notes to become off-pitch. Even though Alison LaRue’s endearing facial expressions gave individuality to the various characters she portrays, some of the movements and forced voice projection of the other actors seemed better suited for a larger venue, where the audience is not so up close and personal.

James Ilsely began somewhat stiffly, but loosened up as he sang his first song, “A Stud and a Babe.” Once he relaxed, he was quite enjoyable to watch.

This north Raleigh community-theater presentation bears the marks of an amateur production, but that does not diminish the bright talents found within. The small space creates an intimacy as well as provides opportunity for interaction with the audience when the cast performs on the floor. The small size of the theater also makes it easier to hear the actors and understand what they are saying.

But working in such a small space is restrictive. Several simple, yet varied props added variety to the proceedings. Each scene had its own feel, with its own space for the actors to inhabit. The costumes were styled so well for each actor that they could have been rescued 1980s rejects from their very own closets, except they were brilliantly paired for each couple.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change leaves you feeling that maybe your dating life hasn’t taken a wrong turn and that is not only okay but appropriate to laugh at your own foibles along with the rest of the world. Bravo!

SECOND OPINION: Triangle Arts & Entertainment’s online version of the Feb. 3rd Triangle Theater Review preview by Robert W. McDowell: http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/2012/02/nract-presents-the-long-running-off-broadway-musical-i-love-you-youre-perfect-now-change/.

North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre presents I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 18 and 3 p.m. Feb. 19 at NRACT, in the Greystone Village Shopping Center, 7713-51 Lead Mine Rd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27615.

TICKETS: $15 ($12 students and seniors), except $10 Sundays.

BOX OFFICE: 919-866-0228 or https://www.vendini.com/.

SHOW: http://www.nract.org/2012/01/15/i-love-you-youre-perfect-now-change/.

SEASON: http://www.nract.org/shows/.

PRESENTER/VENUE: http://www.nract.org/.

DIRECTIONS: http://www.idiots.net/improv-raleigh-village-idiots-contact.html.

OTHER LINKS:

The Musical: http://www.loveperfectchange.com/ (official website) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_You,_You’re_Perfect,_Now_Change (Wikipedia).

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Liz Alderson is a Raleigh, NC-based writer and reviewer. This review is reprinted with permission from Triangle Theater Review. To start your FREE subscription to this newsletter, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE TTR in the Subject: line.

To read all of Liz Alderson‘s Triangle Theater Review reviews online at Triangle Arts & Entertainment, click http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/author/liz-alderson/.