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.
