A comedic look at the challenges of dating, marriage, and relationships, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, will open International City Theatre’s (ICT) 41st season. The popular and touching musical will run Friday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, March 8 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center with two low-priced preview performances Feb. 18-19. (For details, see below.)
With a book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts the revue is a collection of 20 scenes and songs that explore the thrills and pitfalls of dating, romance, marriage and long-term commitment, from first dates and second guesses to in-laws and everything in between, covering nearly every stage of romantic life.
“This show is funny, poignant and will resonate with everyone,” says Director Barry Pearl. “No matter your age or relationship status, you’ll see yourself somewhere onstage, in the excitement, the awkwardness, the heartbreak and the joy. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change celebrates how messy and miraculous it is to connect with another human being.”
Combining his disciplines
Leading the three-week engagement, Pearl is an award-winning actor, director and producer, best known for his role as “Doody” in Paramount’s film Grease. His Broadway acting credits include The Producers, Bye Bye Birdie, Oliver! and Baby It’s You.
His local directing credits include three productions of 13: The Musical (“I love that show,” he says); two versions of All Shook Up, also by DiPietro, and Footloose.
Pearl last appeared with ICT in Lend Me A Tenor in 2022 as Cleveland Opera Company General Manager Henry Saunders. He “jumped at the chance” to return after caryn desai [sic], artistic director/producer invited him to direct. “The whole operation is a wonder,” he says. “I’m pleased to play in their sandbox.
“I haven’t made a permanent shift from acting to directing, even though my body is moving in other directions. I enjoy both disciplines.”
Close connections
Though he’s not directed the show before, Pearl has some close connections to the piece.
He and Jonathan Pollard were both aspiring actors and became friends. Pollard transitioned to producing and is one of the partners behind the original production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Debuting in 1996, he helped guide the show through its successful 12-year, 5,003-performance run.
Pearl is also a friend and colleague of the show’s original director Joel Bishoff, who also helmed productions in North America, London’s West End, Tokyo, and the Mandarin language production in Shanghai and Beijing. He cast Pearl in his 2005 production of The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife at Laguna Playhouse.
Another acquaintance is actor David Engel, who appeared last year as Horace Vandergelder in Musical Theatre West’s Hello, Dolly! He joined the cast of Off-Broadway’s long-running musical revue in 2005.
“I saw the original show, and I thought it was great,” says Pearl.
While he didn’t speak with DiPietro, he was able to “pick his friends’ brains” for tips.
Following are excerpts from my interview with Pearl about bringing the show to the stage.
You’re doing the original version of the show.
When I spoke with my friends, they said that, yes, the 2018 version is ‘edgier,’ ‘naughtier’ and a bit risqué. It includes references to Tinder, Netflix, cell phones, gay and lesbian couples and ‘unsolicited unsavory texts.’
I looked at it and decided I want to be true to the original. Yes, it’s been mocked as hackneyed and working in stereotypes, but the loving send ups of issues like masculinity and women’s taste in movies have made it a crowd pleaser.
What’s the appeal of the show for you?
The show is unique. It’s presented as a series of vignettes, independent from each other, yet capturing the arc of relationships in a person’s life–from a first date, marriage, childbearing and more.
So we start at the beginning of time, and we look in on different aspects of relationships. It’s not a book show where we follow the same characters. This show lets audiences look in on different characters, all ages, having varying experiences.
Each episode is masterfully crafted, and it may not be something you’ve lived. But you know someone who has.
Can you give some examples of those experiences?
Cantata for a First Date is a rapid list of all the things you check off the list before your first date. Sex and the Married Couple is about a couple feeling randy, but burdened by responsibilities, like getting their whiny kids to bed.
I Will Be Loved Tonight is about a woman who beats a guy in tennis and then thinks ‘oh my gosh, I hope I didn’t turn him off.’ He’s coming over for dinner, and she sings this stunningly beautiful song of hope. And it’s a gorgeous tune.
and Daniel Gary Busby (piano). Photo by Jordan Gohara
What tips did your friends give you?
Joel gave me hints about certain scenes. He was very helpful as I prepped my script. The creators have dialogue that must be adhered to, although they suggest alternatives. And they recommend referring to local eateries and restaurants in certain scenes. When I asked about where and when the action takes place, they said from the dawn of time to now and everywhere.
As far as staging, one of the highlights of the show is The Family that Drives Together, that makes clever use of rolling chairs. Used in tandem it’s a great device with unruly teens, a mom, and dad who loves his car and turns into Elvis.
How important is the casting?
I rely on the talents of the people that I cast– Michael Deni, Erika Schindele, Will Riddle and Whitney Kathleen Vigil. They have to act, sing and dance a bit to portray 40 characters in two hours.
The show is irreverent and satirical, yet the creators instilled underling compassion for each character, and the actors have to bring that. A Stud and a Babe is about a shy man and a woman who may seem like nerds, but the core of the situation is lonely people who want to interact and who audiences can relate to. Always a Bridesmaid, a send-up of country music, is a lament about a closetful of dresses.
We can make these scenes funny, but you need to have a cast that can bring out the truth in them and this cast does that.
Can you comment on the creative team?
We’re blessed to have such great people involved. Our musical director Gary Busby is also the pianist. Traditional productions have a duo of piano and violin that also get into the action and we have Joe Buzzelli. I asked our set designer Steven Gifford (he recently did Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Sweeney Todd at La Mirada Theatre) to give me a tabula rasa. His set is stunning in its simplicity.
Is there a message?
Joe DiPietro has said that the focus of the show is connecting with someone. That beneath the struggles, the effort is more than worth it. In The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz you have a woman opening up, seeking love and being totally vulnerable. The show is funny, but there’s humanity in every single scene. I think it lands deep in the hearts of people.
International City Theatre performances are in the Beverly O’Neill Theater, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach. Previews are Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $44. Performances Feb. 20 through March 8 are at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $56; $59 for Sunday matinees. For more information, visit InternationalCityTheatre.org or call 562-436-4610.
Steve Simmons is an accomplished writer and editor who writes about a wide array of topics including entertainment. His successful experience at The Beverly Hills Courier and other publications set the stage for his blog. Contact Steve at steve.simmons0211@gmail.com or 626-788-6734.
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