Show’s take on love charming

By Shari Goldstein Stern

Now that newly remodeled Theatre Too (T2) has reopened, along with the thoroughly morphed Theatre Three (T3) upstairs, T2 presents its most revered, most revived, most relatable gift, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” (ILY) The show, billed as a “musical comedy about everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit,” is always a treat. This revival, running now through February 18 at T2, doesn’t disappoint. 

More than 20 years ago, T3’s sister, T2 presented a daring, groundbreaking, musical comedy that deliciously explored a variety of men and women’s relationships. It became the longest running show is the T2’s history. Now in the 21st century, it returns with special performances on Valentine’s Day. 

Directed by Joel Ferrell with music directed by Vonda K. Bowling, the production excels with books and lyrics by Joe DiPietro. ILY premiered Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre in 1996 and had an impressive 5,003 performances. 

In T2’s always-charming production, Jimmy Roberts, at the piano, is worthy of top billing. He embellishes his upbeat interpretation of Pietro’s score with a piano accompaniment into which he brings occasional improv comments. Saturday night’s audience loved it.

What’s missing is a print program so patrons can learn about this talented cast.  There’s the modern, attractive, 30-something, single woman (Woman 1), played with confidence by Alison Bret, who declares her satisfaction with being single and childless while visiting her friends, two excessively doting husbands, who talk baby talk to each other while obsessively picking up toys. The dads, Frank and Frank, are played hilariously by Sergio Antonio Garcia (Man 2) and Davian Jackson (Man 1), are in constant motion as they stress over the baby’s monitor. This is a switch from earlier T2 productions in which a traditional male husband and female wife do the scene, but the story line is the same. Garcia and Jackson bring hearty laughs as the OCD gay couple.

In ILY, as an insecure single woman, Bret throws herself into her laptop to record her first online dating video. She chugs, doesn’t sip from her wine goblet, during her impromptu presentation, and the “talkier” she gets, the more she embarrasses herself with self-deprecating remarks. With her multiple roles in ILY, Bret is polished, poised and has a knack for comedic timing. She has a strong, musical theater voice that she uses well in her quirky characters. 

Each time T2 revises this quirky show, one character’s show-stopping scene reverberates. Garcia seems at home with his convict character, clad in traditional orange at Huntsville Prison, where he leads a singles group in the prison’s community room. “In your face” doesn’t begin to describe his raving as he works the room with eye-to-eye encounters with the audience (fellow cons). You had to empathize with one shocked grandmother who cringed while looking away when the hyped-up jailbird attempted eye contact, literally in her face.

Another guffaw-eliciting sketch has a couple performing in bed while a moderator, played by Garcia, tells an audience what they’re doing wrong. He interrupts to critique them and Lauren LeBlanc (Woman 2), as a counselor, pops up between them in the middle of the bed with a notebook and pen. 

LeBlanc has a knack for adapting to her different characters, which cover a wide range of personalities. When she belts out “Always a Bridesmaid,” she appeals to the many former bridesmaids in the audience with a collection of bridesmaids’ dresses, some perky, some dramatic — each worn once in their closets.

While Jackson is a husky young man, his agility while dancing and horse playing onstage makes him a pleasure to watch. Also pay attention to his often-powerful vocals. 

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” continues through February 19 at T2, Theatre Three, 2688 Leclede St., 75201 in the Quadrangle. There will be a special performance Valentine’s Day, complete with champagne, chocolates and flowers, making it an ideal Valentine’s Day date night. For tickets, call the T3 box office 214-871-3300 or visit theatre3dallas.com.