'I Love You, You're Perfect,' Don't Change!

“And that night, man asked woman—if she was busy,” says a robed figure as three others mystically chant in hushed tones.

As the robed figures strip down to underwear and groom themselves for their respective first dates, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” begins charting the hilarious, idiosyncratic progression of most male-female relationships. Directed by Jonathan J. Carpenter ’07 and co-produced by Benjamin M. Poppel ’09 and Jeremy R. Steinemann ’08, Harvard-Radcliffe Summer Theater (HRST) took the musical comedy to the Loeb Experimental Theatre stage this past Friday. The show is the perfect choice for HRST to end their season—and a perfect choice for prospective audience members who love musical theater and have ever been on a first date.

The musical comedy, with music by Jimmy Roberts and book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, is off-Broadway's current longest-running musical, second only to “The Fantasticks” for longest-running of all time. Premiered in 1996 with the tagline “Everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit,” the play presents a series of vignettes on the ever-elusive subject of love. The scenes follow the same general progression as most relationships, from jittery first-dates to chance meetings at wakes. Although the musical is unabashedly heteronormative—mostly likely a product of its pre-21st century datedness than its politics—it does accurately caricature the often hilarious situations involved in searching for, sustaining, or losing love. Anyone who’s ever had so much as an unrequited crush can enjoy it.

The cast consists of only four actors; an interesting and risky choice for a musical with so many eclectic roles, but consistent with how the play is performed off-Broadway. The effect is confusing, often dizzying, and not too different from being in love.

Thus, the actors deserve great praise. Cast members Christine K. L. Bendorf ’10, Jonas A. Budris ’06, Walter B. Klyce III ’10, and Morgan L. Mallory ’10 all wonderfully portrayed the countless personalities in the musical—usually ironically, sometimes earnestly, but always skillfully. Not only are they four talented actors, but they are talented singers as well. The most memorable moments in their performances included Klyce crying at a “chick flick” on a date at the movies, Bendorf giving a stellar monologue as a divorcee, and a duet by Mallory and Budris trying to find a few minutes in their hectic married life to actually have sex.

Talented as the cast may be, however, a musical’s success depends wholeheartedly on a skillful and dependable band. With Ben E. Green ’06 at the piano and Catherine E. Powell ’08 at the violin, “I Love You” was a complete success. They provided the backdrop against which the actors could shine.

While the show is essentially an upbeat, zany comedy about love mishaps—the best scenes inevitably involve dating antics—it does not ignore the more serious aspects of love. The one-liners are consistent but the show stares disappointment, divorce, and death in the face with a sense of humor. Ultimately, it is an uplifting look at love.

“The course of true love never did run smooth,” wrote Shakespeare in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the first play performed by HRST this summer. “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” HRST’s last play this summer, embraces this course—unsmooth and all—as the only way to describe modern love.

The show runs through Friday, Aug. 17, at the Loeb Experimental Theatre.

—Reviewer Giselle Barcia can be reached at gbarcia@fas.harvard.edu.