Tovic Salvador

Theater review: 'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change' is back and still enjoyable

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174027887928320250223020232_03 ILYYPNC has been cited as one of highlights of the 2024 theater scene..png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Gian Magdangal, Marvin Ong, Krystal Kane, Gabby Padilla transform seamlessly into 40 different characters. Handout </div>There are truths we often hide — insecurities, longings, fear of rejection, and the shame of loneliness. Yet when voiced, they often become humorous. Comedy thrives on unabashed honesty, capturing the follies of human nature.That is why &quot;I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change&quot; endures. Since its 1996 debut at the Westside Theatre in New York City, it has become the longest-running musical revue in Off-Broadway history, revealing fears, desires, and blunders that resonate universally.Few things are more amusing than the unspoken anxieties of romance — the pretensions of courtship, the terror of vulnerability, the stigma of singlehood, and the absurd drama of marital relations.This two-act musical comedy, with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts, distills love in all its clumsy, exhilarating, and heartbreaking forms. Through 20 vignettes, its witty songs capture the complexities of the human heart, propelling the musical to over 250 cities worldwide, translated into at least 17 languages.Repertory Philippines’ staging, impressively directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, reinvents the revue with visual sophistication. Drawing from the 2018 revision to reflect modern dating sensibilities, the production unfolds against an electric midnight palette. A sleek projector screen renders a street view with moving cars and backlit silhouettes of skyscrapers, evoking a New York vibe.Blending digital and traditional design, the production employs wooden panels and evocative lighting, opting for restraint over excess. This minimalist approach ensures that all focus remains on the four powerhouse actors — Gian Magdangal, Marvin Ong, Krystal Kane, and Gabby Padilla — who transform seamlessly into 40 characters.Against the dark-hued stage, white rolling chairs, simple tables, and blankets conjure entire worlds. The sketch-based format demands both versatility and endurance, and the dynamic cast delivers with remarkable ease, mirroring our yearning for connection and our insecurities. While the updated material of 2018 addresses contemporary sensibilities, it lacks some aspects of today’s dating scene — such as ghosting or situationships. Yet, the themes remain timeless, reflecting the musical’s lasting appeal.Under Yulo’s direction, the actors inhabit each moment. Their delivery carries a tenderness and quiet poignancy beneath the comedy. From the first-date neuroses of “A Stud and a Babe” to the aching anticipation of “I Will Be Loved Tonight,” and the tragicomic candor of a middle-aged divorcée in “The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz” to the hopeful hesitancy of twilight romance in “Funerals Are for Dating,” the musical charts love in all its contradictions. The self-deprecating “Always a Bridesmaid,” sung masterfully by Kane, serves not as a lament for singlehood but as a defiant ode to independence.Set across various U.S. states, the revue’s humor is unmistakably American. Those familiar with the culture will catch its linguistic nuances — Brooklyn accents, Jewish characters, and urban dating idiosyncrasies. While some cultural references may resonate more with Filipino audiences familiar with American humor, the emotional core remains universally relatable.Kane is a revelation. Her natural fluency in English complements her intuitive grasp of character. With magnetic stage presence and powerful voice, she navigates the musical’s emotional tides with subtlety. Her performance feels organic — her humor never forced, her emotions genuine, as if lived rather than performed.REP’s production — having debuted last year and now opening the company’s 88th season at REP’s Eastwood Theater — ensures that &quot;I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change&quot; remains an enjoyable experience. It captures the evolving complexities of love, reminding us that no matter what stage of romance we find ourselves in, we are never truly alone.<div>&quot;I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change&quot; runs from February 20 to March 9, 2025, at the REP Eastwood Theater.</div><div> </div>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, “<a href="https://filmcheckplus.com/2025/02/22/reps-i-love-you-youre-perfect-now-change-review-a-humorous-take-on-the-journey-of-love/">Film Check+</a>&quot;.

Repertory Philippines’ staging, impressively directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, reinvents the revue with visual sophistication.

Repertory Philippines’ staging, impressively directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, reinvents the revue with visual sophistication.

Theater review: 'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change' is back and still enjoyable

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Theater review: 'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change' is back and still enjoyable

ABS-CBN News,

Stephanie Mayo

Published February 23, 2025 10:48 AM PHT

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theater review

I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change

Repertory Philippines

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