Love Stars in Altarena’s Latest

The Altarena Playhouse continues its 2010 season with the musical production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, a revue-like series of sketches, songs and monologues about love.

From the awkward first date to midlife divorce, pick-up lines, wedding vows and baby's babbling, everything is fodder for laughs, and sometimes tears, in Altarena's version of the long-running off-Broadway show. The show's saucy, sometimes piquant lyrics and physically suggestive humor make this a show for teens and older. No kiddies, please.

Director Noah Haydon offers a spare but colorful production, with few props and no scenery; costume-changes and rapid-fire entrances and exits serve to keep the small cast bustling throughout. Musical direction is provided by Min Kahng, whose elegant piano is often hauntingly accented by Joshua Cohen's violin. The intimacy of Altarena once again shines in this delightful show.

Penned by Joe DiPietro with music by Jimmy Roberts, ILYYPNC  is expertly cast with Katherine Cooper, Caleb Haven Draper, Alex Kirschner, Paul Plain, Adrienne Walters, and Paula Wujek. Each actor's performance is sharp, detailed yet nuanced, with excellent vocals and comedy throughout. Especial notice goes to Wujek for her splits and cartwheel, as well as her spirited, poignant delivery of the monologue, "The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz." Way to work the crowd, lady!

Highlights include echoes of Sex in the City in "Single Man Drought;" the single person's nightmare of loneliness in "Scared Straight," and the hope that there's someone for each of us, even the nerds and dorks, in "A Stud and a Babe." Hilarity ensues in "And Now the Parents," where Wujek's eyebrows work overtime as she verbally scorches her son and the girlfriend, and "The Married Tango," in which two exhausted adults discover that they might actually get to have sex—with each other—if they can stay awake.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is playing at Altarena weekends through Oct. 23, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m; Thursday, Oct. 14 and 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for students (under 18) and seniors (over 62). Not suitable for children. Call (510) 523-1553 for tickets or purchase on line. Altarena Playhouse is located at 1409 High St.