THEATER REVIEW

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," now playing at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, is a small show with a huge heart.

With a cast of only four and a pianist and violinist as its orchestra, the show is a series of vignettes about relationships, from first dates, to the compromises of marriage, to the pain of divorce and the promise of the unknown.

And boy, does it pack a wonderful punch.

As its title suggests, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," often takes a wry approach to the mating game. Neither men nor women get off the hook.

While it has plenty of sardonic moments and some risqué ones, it never ventures into cynicism and can be incredibly moving at times.

Somehow, it manages to touch on the sweetest things about love and relationships without ever getting sentimental.

Praise to a magnificent cast that tackled more than 20 vignettes and always made them funny and insightful.

Rachel Goldrick and Katherine Walker Hill are Woman One and Woman Two, and Scott Moreau and Galloway Stevens are Man One and Man Two.

All four have their moments to shine, from Goldrick's funny, angry but ultimately touching video she makes for a dating service after a divorce, to Stevens' overwhelming response to a chick flick he sees with a date.

Walker Hill does a fantastic job with the funny "Always a Bridesmaid," (and kudos to costume designer Jim Conti for coming up with one of the ugliest bridesmaids gowns around) and Moreau had me in tears when he sang "Shouldn't I Be Less In Love With You?" to his wife of 30 years.

There are so many more priceless moments in the show. Of all 22 vignettes, not one of them is a dud.

Musical director Beth Burrier plays piano and in a neat theatrical change of pace, Jason Labrador plays violin. They work together beautifully.

Director Paul Bernier gets terrific performances out of his cast and lets the numbers zip and zing along. There isn't one dead spot in the entire show.

 "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" was an off-Broadway hit for 11 years and it's easy to see why. Everyone, from happily married couples to sad singles — and unhappy couples and thrilled to be single singles — can relate to the show.

No, it's not a family show. It's a wry take on love, sex, marriage, divorce and second chances that somehow keeps its heart intact.

That's not kids' stuff.

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"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" is playing at the Dutch Apple, 510 Centerville Road, through Feb. 21.


Staff writer Jane Holahan can be reached at jholahan@LNPnews.com or 481-6016.