Eve Dillingham and Heather Simsay duet in The Pompano Players’ I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change / Photos by Amy Pasquantonio
By Mariah Reed
The Pompano Players, a new resident theatre company, has launched its season with the second longest-running Off-Broadway musical in New York theater history, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. If this production is an indication of what’s to come, we have an exciting new theatrical organization that is chock-full of seasoned and talented professionals that are sure to delight South Florida audiences.
Produced by Arts Center Management Theatricals, this presentation consists of an entertaining collection of scenes and songs that chart the course of relationships, marriage, widowhood, and divorce. Act One focuses on courtship and the search for a life partner. Act Two address the pitfalls of parenthood, trips in the family car, and senior love.
Though somewhat dated and more than a tad cynical, the musical manages to amuse a modern-day audience with wry humor mostly inspired by stereotypical heterosexual male/female communication challenges. The men don’t clean, ask directions, or enjoy romantic films. The women, who measure their worth through physical attractiveness, are desperately seeking a male partner with whom to marry and build a family. Singlehood is treated with disdain, and marriage is portrayed as an endless, sexless existence fraught with chores and dissatisfaction.
Despite the pessimistic view of relationships inherent in the script, the Pompano Players do an admirable job of entertaining their audience with flawless choreography, tight direction, resonant and affecting vocal renditions. Moments of hilarity balanced with instances of tender vulnerability are embodied by an energetic, enthusiastic and versatile cast.
Michael Ursua’s musical direction is top-notch, with thrilling harmonies and dynamic delivery that imbues each song with heart and humor. With direction that keeps the action moving fluidly, a talented cast of four portray a myriad of characters looking for romantic love. Director Jeremy Quinn deserves a standing ovation for keeping the action moving swiftly and in such an engaging way that one forgives some of the more sexist scenarios, identifying instead with endearing characters searching for the right life mate.
Minimal scenery is utilized to keep that flow moving along, and a dynamic and skillful band underscores the action and songs with sprightly and nimble proficiency. One highlight of the production is Eve Dillingham’s heartfelt solo, “I will be loved tonight.” As she delights in anticipation of the evening’s potential for true romance, Ms. Dillingham displays moments of longing and hope that pull at one’s heartstrings. Later in the play she delivers an equally moving performance as a disillusioned divorcee whose broken heart causes her to literally choke with emotion.
Lovell Rose
Heather Simsay shines as a young woman lamenting her fate as someone who is “Always a Bridesmaid, never a Bride,” and Collin Salvatoré delivers a deeply affecting performance as a man marveling at the profound love he still feels for his wife after thirty years of marriage. After a series of scenarios that seem to portray real love as a myth, Salvatoré’s tender and earnest revelation is a welcome exhibition of unselfish and mature love. Lovell Rose rounds out the gifted cast, portraying a wide variety of characters with passion and flair.
Unfortunately, technical issues distracted this reviewer throughout the performance. Voices were frequently distorted by either poorly equalized microphones or a speaker that was malfunctioning. Additionally, lighting was inadequate in many scenes, and actors’ faces were in the dark or partially shadowed. Although these annoyances were present throughout the presentation, the stellar cast made up for this shortcoming with their heartfelt performances and pitch-perfect singing.
The production culminates with our cast returning to encourage the audience to persist in their quest for romantic love, despite all obstacles. An appropriate message for this production which struggled somewhat with the facility’s technical limitations but emerged victorious in ensuring a night of hilarity, humility and heart in contemplation of the universal search for belonging.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change from the Pompano Players is performed Friday, November 15 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m., at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W Atlantic Blvd. For tickets visit https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.com/events/8276/ For special accommodations, please call 954-501-1910
Mariah Reed is an Equity actress, produced playwright and tenured theater professor.
