Following a successful run last season, Repertory Philippines (REP) is excited to launch its 88th season with the return of the beloved musical comedy I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. The show will run from Feb. 20 to March 9 at the REP Eastwood Theater in Eastwood City Walk, Quezon City.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, the longest-running off-Broadway show, is a two-act romantic musical comedy set against the backdrop of a bustling metropolis and the ever-present glow of dating apps and social media. With book and lyrics by award-winning Joe DiPietro and music by renowned composer Jimmy Brooks, this classic production was refreshed by the First Lady of Philippine Musical Theater Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo for restaging in 2024.
This fresh take on a timeless tale explores the highs and lows of love in today’s fast-paced world. Played by four actors in twenty vignettes, it covers “everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit.” From awkward first dates to courtship, marriage, and the complexities of commitment, each vignette captures the essence of contemporary romance, reminding us that amidst the chaos, love and genuine connections still prevail.
The original cast of Gian Magdangal, Gabby Padilla, Krystal Kane, and Marvin Ong make their triumphant return to reprise their roles as the 40 characters, and Davy Narciso and Barbara Jance once again join the cast as male and female swings, respectively. Some of the most memorable vignettes include a hopeful “I Will Be Loved Tonight” before a first date; a passion-filled musing of a man still in love with his wife in “Shouldn’t I Be Less I Love With You”; a middle-aged woman navigating online dating in “The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz”; and the sweet, blossoming romance between senior citizens in “I Can Live With That.”
Since its debut, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change has been praised as a highlight of the 2024 theater scene, earning 13 Gawad Buhay Awards and two Aliw Awards nominations.