Review: I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, Old Joint Stock Birmingham
It’s easy to see why I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change was the second longest running Off-Broadway musical in history. Originally running from 1996-2008 at the Westside Theatre, with music by Jimmy Roberts and a book and lyrics written by Joe DiPietro, this seemingly light-hearted and hilarious musical has many levels. What starts as surface level comedy, soon deepens to a more complex and profound message. The stellar four-person cast tells a myriad of stories on finding, living with, and losing love. Each scene stands alone and yet the order in which they are presented represents the timeline of relationships throughout the course of one's life.
ILYYPNC’s set is simple yet effective. The Old Joint Stock Theatre is small, yet every inch of its space goes unwasted. The parallel audience members make a joyful experience even better, as our laughter is mirrored in their faces. The lighting really helps you to immerse into each scene, creating clear start and end points as well as creating atmosphere. This is particularly clear when during a date at the movies, the light reflected on our characters’ faces is just like that at the pictures.
Originally written in 1995, ILYYPNC’s libretto has been updated to include references to modern life such as Netflix, ‘dick pics’ and even the Barbie movie. The first half, although hilarious and with great musical numbers, does rely heavily on cliched dating tropes (sex-mad men, desperate women) although it could be argued that this is part of the joke. This is redeemed in the nuanced second half which also includes same sex couples, something which would have been nice to see in the first half. Amongst the mostly comedic numbers in Act One, ‘I Will Be Loved’ is a standout moving piece. Megan Carole really moves the audience as a woman waiting and finally receiving the love she deserves.
Although the show mostly consists of short purposeful dialogue and catchy songs, which support the narrative beautifully, it is also wonderful to see so much movement. Ollie Thomas-Smith moves with such grace and leads his lady beautifully during the elderly couple scene. The cast aren’t afraid to involve the audience throughout the show, getting them to hold their bags of shopping, or asking them out on a date which adds a playful and personal feel to the piece. The mood in the room as the performance ends is joyous and elated, which is unsurprising as this versatile cast instantly immerses the audience in each new sketch and embodies whichever character they are seamlessly.
Get yourself down to The Old Joint Stock, you are guaranteed to love it and won’t want to change it one bit!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change plays at Birmingham’s Old Joint Stock Theatre until 12 August, with further information here:
https://www.oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on
📸 Tyler Whiting Photography