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Repertory Philippines stages updated version of ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’

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<div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>A</span><span>fter a successful opening of the season with </span><span><em>Betrayal</em></span><span>, Repertory Philippines continues its season with </span><span><em>I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change</em>. <span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(65, 65, 65);color:rgb(65, 65, 65);-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Featuring a talented cast consisting of Marvin Ong, Krystal Kane, Gabby Padilla, and Gian Magdangal, t</span></span><span>his modern take on the off-Broadway musical opens on June 14 at the RCBC Theater and runs until July 6.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>The 2024 production presents a revised 2018 version of the show, differing significantly from its 2006 staging.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>The show will be directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, and she highlighted what the updated version this show will present.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“Some songs were replaced, and others remain. I&#x27;ve set it in a contemporary context to engage today&#x27;s audiences,” she explained. “The visual presentation is more dynamic, and the lyrics have been updated to resonate better with modern viewers.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>This version, being performed for the first time since its update in the Philippines, promises a fresh experience. According to Musical Director Ejay Yatco, the musical arrangement now includes an electric guitar, electric bass, drums, and piano, giving the score a more current sound.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Returning to the stage, Marvin Ong credits Menchu for his comeback after a decade-long hiatus.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> “Initially I said no, but it’s Tita Menchu. I felt the tug [with this musical] was very strong, not just because ‘yeah I wanna do theater again’, but I think it’s also the material that’s very intriguing,” he said. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Gabby Padilla likewise shared her excitement about returning to her roots in theater. “It’s where I really started; it’s always going to be home. So when I had the opportunity to do this, I was very excited. And like Marvin, it really was Tita Menchu who got me to say yes.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>For Menchu, directing this musical is like a homecoming for her. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“REP is always going to be my home. I owe my career to REP,” she admitted. “Coming back to REP it doesn’t change, it’s not like I disappeared from REP even though I’m working in Newport World Resorts; REP is always part of my life. I never really lost track of REP. I’ve come and I’ve watched all their shows, and I’ve always been very supportive.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>The story of </span><span><em>I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change</em>, </span><span>follows the cast as they play 10 characters each who serve a fresh take on modern dating. It is presented as a series of vignettes on connection, intimacy, commitment and loneliness.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>When asked what challenges they faced during the process, Gian shared that it is indeed challenging playing 10 characters. However, he highlighted the teamwork the main cast has helps a lot.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“It&#x27;s really everybody helping each other. You never feel alone doing it, at the same time you’re going to be alone doing some scenes, but you really feed off of everyone,” he shared. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Krystal echoed Gian’s sentiments, agreeing how challenging it was to play different characters, especially considering the age range between different characters. “It’s very challenging to play so many different characters especially with the age range. To kind of play the characters but at the same time play them truthfully.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>– By Samantha Prats</span></div>

<p>'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change' is Repertory Philippines’ adaptation of the off-Broadway musical, opening on June 14 at the RCBC Theater.</p>

'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change' is Repertory Philippines’ adaptation of the off-Broadway musical, opening on June 14 at the RCBC Theater.