Joe Dipietro

‘…Now Change’ has changed!

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By Wendy Carson

Mud Creek Players brings us the delightful relationship-based musical comedy, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” However, after casting the production with scripts from a previous version, director Kevin Bell discovered that the “perfect” script had itself changed, thanks to updates by the creators, Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts.

Therefore, if you’ve seen a past version of this show, get ready for a few new twists and takes on some of its classic skits.

This production’s expanded cast keeps the laughter rolling throughout, deftly moving from one scene to the next. Highlights include: Alex Bast’s sweet desire to be more of a ‘Stud” while Kennedy Wilson yearns to be more of a “Babe”; Lauren Werne’s poignant dating video; Kristin Hilger & Logan Laflin sharing a movie date; and Jeremy Crouch and Derek Sumpter just being “Guys”. It’s impossible to pick just one scene to highlight the talents of Onis Dean, Yolanda Valdivia, and Nicole Crabtree, as each remembered role is just as fantastic as the next. I also loved the inclusion of stagehand Meriah Reynolds as an extra included in parts of the show.

If this isn’t familiar, know that the musical is a very funny and at times touching tribute to relationships, from dating to marriage and family to finding yourself single and seeking again.

So, head out this Valentine’s weekend (Feb. 14-15) for a lot of love and laughs at Mud Creek, 9740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis. Get tickets at mudcreekplayers.org.

Laughs and love at The Cat

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By John Lyle Belden

There’s something funny going on at The Cat in downtown Carmel: the fun musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

The show, written by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts, is a series of musical skits reflecting love from first meeting to long after the wedding. Christian Condra, JB Scoble, Sara Castillo Dandurand, and Abby Okerson perform in various couplings throughout. Being no strangers to silliness, Condra and Scoble direct.

In keeping with his on-stage appearances, we get Condra in his underwear in record time. Nobody gets stripped beyond their skivvies, but there is some mature content, so consider this for teens and up.

Dating is a pain, marriage is a pain, family are a pain – so why are we laughing? This foursome gladly suffer for our pleasure, complete with swirling props and physical gags as well as the hilarious punchlines.

Music is nicely provided onstage by Gisele Dollinger and Evan Wang.

For your post-Valentine entertainment, you’ll love “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 15-18 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. Get info and tickets at thecat.biz.

CCP: ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect…’ has changed

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By John Lyle Belden

When director Dee Timi proposed staging the popular musical comedy “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” to Carmel Community Players, she said she knew that writer Joe Dipietro had updated the 20-year-old show’s content to reflect dating and relationships in a more online-centered age, but hadn’t yet seen how. Fortunately, the “new” edition is as funny and entertaining as ever.

“I like it,” she said. “It’s more relevant.”

It’s true. This Indiana “premiere” of the 2018 edition, with its references to Google and Netflix retains a lot of the content, charm and hilarity of the original show, and, appropriately, feels like its happening to people you know.

Libby Buck, Christian Condra, Jonathan Scoble and Brenna Whitaker portray numerous characters in 20 different scenes. Sometimes all four are on stage — like the familiar hell of the family road trip. Other times they pair up — including a sweet bit of obsessive parenting with “dads” Condra and Scoble.

This foursome delivers excellent performances, like polished players from SNL or Second City. Condra ups the ante in some parts by mugging like classic Jim Carrey, and it works — especially with his over-the-top inmate in the skit, “Scared Straight.” And Buck seems to channel Vicki Lawrence’s “Mama” character in the charming tribute to dating in one’s senior years.

Performances were packed opening weekend; the show runs through March 10 at The Cat performance venue, 254 Veterans Way in downtown Carmel. Call 317-815-9387 or visit carmelplayers.org.