The Drama Barn once again showcased its incredible versatility as DramaSoc’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change burst into life last night. Part-Broadway musical, part-Bridget Jones’ Diary, part-comedy, part-tear-jerker, this play took every preconception and stereotype imaginable about love and relationships and amplified them to the absolute max.
An unusual set took up most of the Barn; with scattered clothes and furniture exuding an air of bohemian squalor. The opening of the play hit the audience like a stun gun, such was the energy brought to the stage by an impressive cast and a superb band. After a slightly bewildering entrance involving chanting and white dressing gowns, the action began to accelerate, hurtling through a frenetic number about first dates. The small cast of four used the space impressively, with plenty of movement and vivacity from the outset whisking the audience away into a satirical, funny, and slightly ridiculous world of dating, love, marriage, sex, children, in-laws, and break-ups.
The play consisted of a series of musical and non-musical sketches, which while fragmented were held together by the common theme of relationships. The cast really stood out for their ability to adapt to dozens of different roles, slipping in and out of characters almost as easily as their impressively fast costume changes. The two women, played by Lily Cooper and Rose Basista, were both hilarious and heart warming, while the male characters (Jamie Bowman and James Dixon) were equally entertaining. The vocal performances were totally on point; emotive and expressive without being overdramatic. The musical numbers themselves ranged from soulful ballads to riotous, uproarious pieces, with ‘A Stud and A Babe’ and ‘Sex and The Married Couple’ particularly well done.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change was most striking in the way it captured how difficult, challenging and ridiculous finding true love really is. It approached the issues of dating and romance in totally new ways, delving deep into the fabric of society and exposing the quirks around relationships that are never really examined. The brash humanness of the play was both comic and touching, farcical yet spot on. Much of the material was totally relatable and recognisable, and had the audience gasping, laughing and cheering along. During one especially outstanding scene, where a couple have just finished a tennis match and talk about spending the night together, I could actually feel the tension between them. The sensitivity and astuteness with which emotions and heartbreaks were handled was a credit to director Zoe Biles, leaving the audience with rapt smiles on their faces as the action swept on.
The instrumentation was flawless, pianist Nick Hester giving a particularly impressive performance. The music fit the action perfectly, providing a subtle aural backdrop and giving strong support to the numerous songs. Overall, this experience is a very intense two hours, as you find yourself dragged from first dates to funeral homes. But it is also a poignant and very real look at life. To all the single guys and gals who have lost hope in ‘love’, you cannot miss this.