Goshen Players' 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' - Review

The clumsily title I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change by Joe Dipietro was presented for three weekends by the Goshen Players, but I was only able to make it to the final performance and I was lucky to buy one of the few tickets left. I apologize for the lateness of this review, but I am so glad that I found the time to see this little gem of a musical that kept me laughing from beginning to end.

Had I not traveled to Goshen for this particular performance, I would not have had the opportunity to see a former first grade student and her family who is now a primary teacher herself. It was so nice to catch up with Lauren and meet her husband. In addition I would have missed one of my favorite community theater actor's finest comic performance to date; more about that later.

Colleen Renzullo directed this troupe of six, although she writes in her program note that "to say that I directed this show alone would be misleading. It has been the finest example of collaborative effort of any show that I have been a part of." She also shares that "it has been a hoot watching it develop into the performance you will see tonight." I like to think that I was able to spot some of the collaboration that Ms. Renzullo mentioned and I definitely can attest to the hoot factor.

The scenes in this fast paced musical take the audience on a tour of first dates, breaking up, getting back together, marriage, babies, hysterical family road trips and even "Funerals are for Dating," The latter features a beautiful performance by veteran actors Lea Dmytryck (a Goshen Player for 46 years) and Charlie Gill (with nearly 30 years with this group.) There were a few bad words throughout the scenes but it was all in good fun. Most of the vignettes poke fun at relationships but there are a few that tug at the heartstrings.

The hardest working members of this fantastic cast are simply listed as ensemble. They took on a huge number of costume and prop changes all done at breakneck speed. Prospect resident Michael C Accuosti (Max in Lend Me a Tenor) nailed the comedy in his many scenes. Kristine Donahue from Meriden made her debut on this stage and had a powerful singing voice and wonderful comic timing. The beautiful Sybil Haggard Chamberlin served as choreographer and worked her onstage magic in many vignettes. I especially enjoyed the scenes where the Thomaston Opera House's Marian the Librarian acted with her Harold Hill, otherwise known as Chuck Stango.

It is no secret that I am Mr. Stango's biggest fan and I try not to miss any of his performances. Katie and Lauren's dad is probably the reason I made such an effort to see this show and I was not disappointed. This role was the perfect opportunity for this charming actor to show off both his comic timing and his wonderful singing voice. Even though I had been warned that he would be sporting a curly wig in "A Stud and a Babe," I still couldn't stop laughing when I saw it.

Music Director Scott Stanchfield did an amazing job on the piano onstage and Jean Conner sat next to him to masterfully play violin. It was the perfect accompaniment for this space where the actors did not wear microphones. The musicians interacted with the onstage action at two points and the maestro rose to applaud the two veteran actors after they completed their scene for the final time.

Costumer Judy Tringali did an amazing job with all the required wardrobe changes, assembled a boatload of props and did hair and makeup, too. Two video monitors that framed the stage labeled the scenes mixed with fun memes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this show and completely
understood why my former student and her parents travel to see I Love You....whenever
they hear that it is being produced. I would definitely see it again.