| Site | |
| Date | 27th Nov 2024 |
|---|---|
| Society | Hayling Musical Society |
| Venue | The Station Theatre, Hayling Island |
| Type of Production | Musical |
| Director | Rhian Gardner-Roberts |
| Musical Director | Louise Helyer |
| Choreographer | Rhian Gardner-Roberts |
| Reviewer | M Coates |
Never heard of it.
And yet, in Fringe Theatre circles, Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts’ I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is hugely popular. The second-longest running musical of its kind, this quick-fire, witty, romantic comedy regularly gets 4 and 5 star reviews in the small theatres it frequents at festivals, most recently in Edinburgh in August of this year.
And there is no doubt that audiences at The Station Theatre this week will relate to Hayling Musical Society’s broad gallery of recognisable characters whose heartfelt yet hilarious awkwardness brims with wit and charm.
The structure of the show is a patchwork of often familiar, sometimes taboo, but always funny iconic relationship moments: whether it’s the book of Genesis’ Adam and Eve emerging from a Greek chorus in the opening number, or a restaurant scene which sees sweet, geeky young couple Joe Coates and Daisy Harkness humbly wish they were ‘a stud and a babe’ or the desperately disappointed ladies in a bar, suffering from a ‘single man drought’ with the memorable line from the permanently brilliant Emily Harkness “Lesbian! I should have been a lesbian!” being one of many show-stoppers. A pair of interfering in-laws are then superbly presented by in-sync couple Iona Harkness and Bill Wallage, before a vibrant family wedding scene closes Act One with a bang. Trevor Thurgood then enters to play a serial murderer who offers marriage guidance to couples before the outrageously funny expose of what kids can do to personality and passion is portrayed firstly in the Baby Song (Joe Brennan) and then the brilliantly frustrating but ultimately hilarious Marriage Tango (Rob William and Karla Mawdsley). Finally, some touching relationships between elderly couples at the end of Act 2 bring a tear to the eye, with Andrew Gibson’s ‘Shouldn’t I be Less in Love With You’ a particularly moving tear-jerker. The passage of time ties all these snapshots of love together, in steady, chronological harmony.
With the musical director playing the piano on stage throughout, this show has an intimate, fringe feel – the sort of vibe that makes the cast and audience feel like close friends by the final curtain!
And there was no shortage of talent on or off stage; director Rhian Gardner-Roberts has put together something special with MD Louise Hellyer; particularly effective set and lighting design was utilised by Lee Stoddart and
Tom Davison’s perfectly balanced sound and SFX offered a professional edge.
In amongst a range of songs written to provoke love, laughter and empathy are some delicious harmonies, with the vocals standing up superbly.
So for music, love and laughter, look no further than the superbly constructed and beautifully performed I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change running from 27th-30th November at The Station Theatre, Hayling Island.
