I love you, you're perfect, now change (Page 139)

Drams 0
Cast Cast: George Raey; Jez Unwin; Rachel Spurrell; Alana Bell
Director Karen Edwards
Music Music by: Jimmy Roberts
Lyrics Joe DiPietro
Musical Director John O’Brien
Venue Greenside (Venue 231)
Address 1B Royal Terrace
Date 14 August 2006
Reviewer Mairi Anderson

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a sure-fire hit wherever it is performed, largely due to the quality of the writing of Joe DiPietro. The lyrics are sharp, funny and moving and the standard of comedy puts it in a different league from many Fringe musicals. The show covers every aspect of romantic relationships and the one-liners are witty, focused and very true to life. Observations of male and female behaviour are unerringly accurate and unfailingly amusing.

The format is a series of short sketches following the stages of relationships from preparations for a youthful first date, to pensioners meeting at a funeral.

2006 Cast I love you, you're perfect, now change

The cast of 4 give well-rounded performances and each has vocal ability of such a high standard that this show hardly stretches them at all. They use their voices in a carefully controlled way, with just flashes of the underlying power audible. This is demonstrated particularly well by Rachel Spurrell in I Will be Loved Tonight and by Jez Unwin in Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love with You?

The latter song is one of the highlights of the show. It is sung by the character of an elderly man to his wife as he runs through all the reasons he has to no longer be in love. In the end he answers the question in the song title. He can’t help but love her still. The scene is beautifully and sensitively played. She turns and asks “What’s the matter?” “Nothing”, he replies and fetches her a cup of tea. It captures so accurately the unexpressed depths of emotion hidden in everyday love.

I love this show for these gems of truth within it and the pithy way they are expressed. Always A Bridesmaid is another very well crafted song cleverly interpreted by Alana Bell. Her character realises that “Her friends can’t assess a man or a dress” but she realises there are compensations in staying as a bridesmaid – “I’ve lived life alone, but the terms are my own!”

George Reay is a versatile performer with an excellent voice and great comic timing. His talent is shown to good effect in The Baby Song and I Can Live With That.

Greenside is a small and fairly intimate venue and the cast take advantage of this to move some of the action around the audience. The set and costumes are simple but effective and musical accompaniment is excellent. Sound is good for the most part, which is vital to hear the witty dialogue and the lighting adds to the atmosphere.

The show was extremely warmly received by the audience. It was fun to see so many young people in hysterics at the humour of Waiting. The men identified with the frustration of interminable shopping and the women with the boredom of watching sport and they could laugh at themselves and each other.

It’s wonderful to see a show which makes you laugh out loud, not just once or twice, but all the way through. I can heartily recommend it. If you like Friends, Frazier and Sex in the City, you’ll love this.

© Mairi Anderson. 15 August 2006. Published on www.edinburghguide.com. I love you, you're perfect

Run 7-26 August 2006

Infinite variety (p.139)
American High School Theatre Festival

Drams 0
Performers Davidson College
Music Russell Howard, Will Winter
Director, composing advisor, text / acting coaches RSC Learning
Staging adaptation for Fringe Cynthia Lewis, Scott Ripley
Company Manager Emily Bostian
Musical Director Barratt Park
Accompanist Michael Rowland
Venue Rocket @ Demarco, Roxy Art House (Venue 115)
Address Roxburgh Place
Date 12 August 2006
Reviewer Mairi Anderson

Infinite variety cast & tutors 2006 Davidson College

Infinite Variety is the result of collaboration between students of Davidson College, North Carolina, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. RSC staff supervised design, performance and musical composition, with additional input from Davidson College faculty staff and American theatre professionals.

The end product works well. Selections of Shakespearean sonnets and songs are delivered in a contemporary setting. The action takes place at a train station and the characters are the individuals waiting there.

Shakespeare probably said everything there is to say about the human condition. As you might expect then, this show covers love, romance, sex, suicide, murder and comedy – all in 30 minutes!

The concept works very well. The fundamental truths in the situations find perfect expression in the words of Shakespeare. That’s why they have survived 400 years. At the same time, the contemporary setting gets across the point very effectively that life and people haven’t changed much. The comedy, drama and tragedy of our lives are just as meaningful to us as the most famous plays by Shakespeare.

The young American cast are very talented and in their showcase numbers they each have an opportunity to demonstrate their skills. Vocal ability is exceptionally good across the whole company.

For me Bryant Kirkland performing Who is Sylvia? was a significant highlight. Bryant is witty, charming and entertaining. He has a strong stage presence and excellent comic timing.

Elizabeth Davis’s delivery of When Daisies Pied shared many of the same qualities of vocal ability and comedic timing. Liz Grundstein has perhaps the most impressive vocal range of the whole cast, ably demonstrated in the song Rest Sweet Nymphs. Steve Kaliski adds impact to the moving When in Disgrace with Fortune and Men’s Eyes in his portrayal of the speaker as a homeless man.

One aspect of the contemporary setting works spectacularly well. As each piece of “drama” is played out by a few of the characters on stage, all the others ignore what is happening. It captures beautifully the disconnection prevalent in our cities where each individual is hooked up to an MP3 player or mobile phone but can totally ignore the other human beings right beside them. This dramatic technique speaks volumes about modern isolation.

Musical accompaniment is ably provided by Michael Rowland; sound, lighting and costumes all contribute to a very professional and innovative show. Some sound bleed-through from other shows didn’t impinge too much.

If you like Shakespeare’s sonnets you will enjoy how Davidson College give them a modern twist. If you are less familiar with Shakespeare’s work but would like to dip a toe in the water, this short, witty, clever show would be an excellent introduction.

© Mairi Anderson. 14 August 2006. Published on www.edinburghguide.com

Run continues: August 13th, 15-16: 17.00 (30mins) £5 (£4)