Joe DiPietro's and Jimmy Roberts' "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," now playing at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia, deals with universal questions about searching for and finding love, only to discover flaws in our ideal mate that we need to change fast. This light look at relationships, from first date to modern courtship to marriage and beyond, is told in a series of 18 unrelated vignettes.
These largely independent segments are tied together by Roberts' music and DiPietro's lyrics.
Roberts' tuneful score ranges from upbeat pop to country to sentimental ballads. The show's book and clever lyrics by DiPietro add wit, sparkle and heart.
The Toby's production features a talented actor-singer-dancer foursome who know how to mine every laugh with sharp comedic skills. They must deal with speedy costume and wig changes to instantly become a variety of characters experiencing the highs and lows of searching for love. They must also span a wide range of ages and temperaments with unflagging energy and camaraderie.
Much of this fast pace and spot-on characterization is due to director Shawn Kettering's efforts (he also plays one of the four principals).
Music director Douglas Lawler does an expert job with only a piano and bass duo.
Another triply talented lead is Helen Hayes-nominated actress Janine Sunday, who does double duty providing a dazzling variety of multiple costumes for each actor.
Kettering and Sunday are joined by Toby favorites Debra Buonaccorsi and David James. Together the cast defines versatility as they play a 20-year-old, middle-age or elderly character delving into and relating aspects of love.
The first half of the show is centered on the twenty- to thirtysomething dating scene, uncovering revelations and romance that culminate in a wedding scene.
The second act covers newlyweds, husbands and wives and their in-laws, parenthood, long-time married couples and senior citizens coping with the loss of their spouses.
Along the way there are lots of laughs - from a first date that has both wanting to skip over the meaningless preliminaries, to the guy on a date who grows teary at a chick flick, to impatient parents ready to plan a wedding for their reluctant offspring.
Comic highlights in the second half include "Always a Bridesmaid," bitingly delivered by Janine Sunday in a hysterically hideous frilly pink bridesmaid gown. Lyrics incorporate clever rhymes like "For Caitlin I wore satin, which I really looked fat in; for Tabitha I wore taffeta, people laugh at ya" and "All the husbands are gone, but the dresses live on."
"Shouldn't I Be Less in Love With You?," sung by Kettering as a husband married 30 years offers a touching moment: "After 30 years together, all those brutal fights, those futile fights. Then the sleepless nights. Shouldn't I have quit 'cause marriage ends? Shouldn't we have split like all our friends? Shouldn't I profess it's time to go? Shouldn't I be less in love with you? No."
Young, old or in between - most of us have been down some of these paths, and "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" is an opportunity to laugh at ourselves and our experiences.
If you go "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" continues through Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, with doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner (5 p.m. Sundays). Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for matinee brunches Wednesdays and Sundays (show starts at noon). Ticket prices including the buffet are $46 to $51. Group rates available. Call 410-730-8311 for reservations or go to TobysDinnerTheatre.com.
Discuss this story and others in our talk forums Most recent local news talk forum topics: More news talk forums: Local | Nation/World | Business | Health/Science | Computers/Technology Note: In-story commenting has been temporarily disabled due to technical issues. We are working to correct the issue and will bring back this feature in the future. In the meantime, please use our talk forums to discuss stories.