The Repertory Philippines (REP) staging of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change feels larger-than-life.
It shouldn’t be, on paper. The musical features just four actors playing a variety of roles in a set of funny and touching sketches related to romance.
Think Goin’ Bulilit on stage, but instead of corny jokes for kids, it has relatable and humorous skits and songs about singledom, dating, loneliness, mindless sex, marriages, parenthood and divorce.
That concept seems like it should be a small intimate affair, but the REP version feels grand, and that is pleasantly surprising.
The show’s director, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, affirmed that making the show was an “interesting challenge.”
The theater veteran said in a statement, “With only four actors playing all the myriad roles, I endeavored to create a directorial language that would elevate the scenes from feeling like a cabaret act with disparate performances to a narrative that felt cohesive and conveyed a clear message.”
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: MAGNIFICENT SHOW
And the final product definitely showed Yulo’s success. Much praise must be given to the artistic and design team: the set, costumes, projection, lights, choreography and sound made the whole show magnificent.
The set design by Joey Mendoza and Lawyn Cruz, featuring an imposing city backdrop and constantly moving wooden panels, gave the show a massive scale.
Then the costumes, whimsical and fashionable as crafted by Mendoza and Hershee Tantiado, helped differentiate one scene to the next.
Projection, sound and lights designed by GA Fallarme, Aji Manalo and Meliton Roxas Jr., respectively, successfully transported the audience to the various locations required in the skits—an elaborate church, a claustrophobic jail, a frenetic highway, and more.
And then there’s the choreography by Stephen Viñas, which gave even small moments an infectious energy. The choice to use chairs with wheels, instead of normal chairs in other stagings of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, was the right choice as it gave the actors the freedom to move.
I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE: great cast
And, of course, accolades must also be given to the four actors, who deftly brought to life all the characters that the show threw at them.
Read: Meet the main cast of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Gian Magdangal was a standout, as he disappeared into every role he played with astonishing ease. His movements were committed and precise, and his facial expression alone made the audience giggle.
Read: Gian Magdangal, umani ng papuri sa pagbabalik niya sa Philippine theater
From his frighteningly intense portrayal as a serial murderer in "Scared Straight" to his hilariously endearing performance as a gay dad in "The Baby Song," Gian demonstrated an impressive range.
Gabby Padilla was equally outstanding. Her ability to switch from a nerdy character to a confident, attractive woman was seamless and believable.
Her portrayal in "The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz" was particularly noteworthy. The monologue, although a bit long, was handled with such depth that the audience listened to every word.
Krystal Kane brought enviable versatility, particularly in her ability to switch accents with ease.
Her performance as a Southern belle in "Always a Bridesmaid" was a crowd-pleaser; it showcased her strong vocal abilities. Her performance as an old lady in "Funerals are for Dating" was noteworthy, too.
Lastly, Marvin Ong’s comedic timing was reliable for his humorous portrayals, especially when playing nerdy characters.
His ability to consistently draw laughs from the audience made his performances in "A Stud and a Babe" and "The Lasagna Incident" particularly enjoyable.
If there is a critique to be made, it is that the first part of the show was notably more energetic and fast-paced compared to the second part.
The latter half, featuring longer songs and monologues, occasionally felt like it could benefit from some trimming to maintain the high energy and pacing established in the first act.
Overall, REP’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a thoroughly entertaining and expertly crafted production. It’s equal parts funny and tragic, just like any love story.
The musicale will run from June 14 to July 6 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City.