Take your valentine to Burien theatre
Sun, 02/10/2008
Burien Little Theatre has a wonderful Valentine gift opening that opened last weekend.
The musical comedy review I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is a great way to spend an evening with your sweetheart.
The review by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts is a series of comedy sketches and songs describing many of the emotions and situations that can happen in a romance. Cast members Annie Jantzer, Laura Sable, Isaiah Crowsen and Bill Wiemuth lovingly portray the many facets of dating, romance, marriage and family.
Director Annie Banton has placed them on a bare set with moveable pieces, keeping the action flowing quickly from scene to scene.
Pianist and musical director Karen Knoller, along with violinist Lisa Timm (no synthesizer here), beautifully accompany the cast through their repertoire of songs that are not only enjoyable but properly convey the tone of each sketch.
The show begins with dating and how awkward, complex and boring it can be. The cast has beautiful voices and enjoy the catchy lyrics that DiPietro and Roberts have enlivened their entertaining melodies with.
Beyond dating, they show us the problems of expectations and clinginess, then on to parents, friends and engagements, including a very funny wedding ceremony that brings up all that will go missing when they say "I Do."
We are treated to all that goes with marriage and parenthood. Among the sketches, Annie Jantzer shows off her vocal range with her take on how it feels to finally get past friendship and Laura Sable shines in a country-western style ballad that bemoans how it feels to always be a bridesmaid and never a bride.
Isaiah Crowsen enjoys the idiocy of infancy and Bill Wiemuth along with Sable look forward to finally having sex again (if he can only keep the feathers out of his mouth).
The action heats up with rolling office chairs depicting the family out for a drive.
Annie Jantzer provides a hilarious but touching monologue about divorce, while Bill Wiemuth has a beautiful song about still loving his wife after 30 years.
Crowsen and Sable round out the show with a nice sketch of an older couple meeting at a funeral, both of their spouses having already departed.
It is amazing the variety and depth that these four actors bring to their performances. They give life to many ages and emotions with timing and /lan. They really are fun to watch.
The set may be minimal, but even so it must be efficient with clean lines and exits. John Flynn's use of columns and screens properly hides the band but allows us to know they are there. John Chenault's lights complete the imagery, allowing us to enjoy the action without detracting from it.
Something must be said for the backstage running crew. The action is fast paced and they are the unsung heroes of any production, let alone one so grueling. The Stage Manager is Jurjan Smies and stage hands are Brian Kiger and Mikki Kunz with Diana Major as dresser.
Rounding it all out is Alex VanBronkhorst in the booth with the hundred or more light cues.
In this oh so gray month of February, show your special someone how much you love them by taking them to see this delightful show.
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is performing at the Burien Community Center Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. through March 2. Call BLT at 206-242-5180 or log onto www.burienlittletheatre.com to make reservations.