KCRW Review
by James Taylor

One more surprising musical addition to LA's small theater scene is yet another production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. This long-titled revue has been running for over 10 years Off-Broadway, and has been seen numerous incarnations here in Southern California since its West Coast premiere in 1998. (It's only March and there have already been two local productions this year.)

I Love You You're Perfect Now Change is the simplest of concepts: a bunch of humorous numbers about relationships, needing very little set design--or rehearsal. It's an easy show for a small theater to put on, but it's a lot harder to make the show's hoary shtick seem like more than a singers' showcase.

The new revival assembled by Michael Chaves probably started as just that, but the director cast four extremely likable young actors who breathe new life into the old material. Two of them in particular, Dina Buglione and Marqui Maresca, are first-rate musical theater artists. Their energetic, emotionally-true performances are genuine highlights in the inexplicable blur of local musical theater.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change continues at the Lounge Theater through March 18; The Beastly Bombing runs indefinitely at the Steve Allen Theater.

This is James Taylor with Theatre Talk for KCRW.

LA Weekly Review
by Steven Leigh Morris

THE ERIKSON REPORT Playwright Adrian Bewley plays the title role of Scott Erikson in a promising new work that consists of two parallel dramas still in need of synthesis. One follows the political intrigue of a young, vigorous Republican U.S. senator (Bewley) under consideration as the party's candidate for vice president in an upcoming election. A series of scenes depicts his faux-pas-laden appearances on talk shows with various hosts (most played by Sinead McHugh), during a personal meltdown in the wake of his father's death, in which he comes off as inhumanly and inhumanely distant from even the appearance of grief, in a world where appearances largely determine success and failure. The mockery of TV "journalism" is so outlandish, in both the writing and in Dina Buglione's directorial style, it pushes this side of the play into comedy sketches struggling to coexist within an otherwise more delicately chiseled human drama. That drama is the coming out of Erikson, as orchestrated by a Mephistophelean freelance journalist/producer, Bob Hollander (Ken Lerner), who poses as therapist and acting teacher to the vulnerable pol, whose better judgment has gone haywire.  One beautifully telling moment involves a scene partner (Derrick Sanders) — oblivious of Erikson's true identity, having no TV, computer or interest in newspapers. Buglione stages the multitudinous short scenes handily on Michael Chaves' multilevel platform set, and much of the acting is equally sharp. Tricia Donohue convinces as Erikson's chrome-plated, Hillaryesque wife; Robert Keiper and Nancy Peterson turn in authoritative cameos as the next-in-line veep appointee and his second lady; and Lerner's rat-eyed poseur-opportunist has stomach-turning authenticity. Bewley anchors his own play as the increasingly disheveled senator slowly tumbling from his fool's paradise. McCadden Place Theatre, 1157 N. McCadden Pl., Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.

Valleynews.com Review

by Debbie Zander

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," the longest-running musical comedy on Broadway has hit Studio City like a 300 pound cupid on a war path.

The hilarious Drumfish production, starring Dina Buglione, Chris Gallego, Marqui Maresca, and Thomas Webb, has proven to be a Valetine's Day hit.

After two sold-out weekends at the Two Roads Theater, 4348 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, the response has been tremendous.

Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts' long-running musical comedy revue about everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit. It deals with the truth about relationships in a fun, light-hearted way.

It's recommended that you make reservations ahead of time. Please call (818) 990-8889 or go on the Web to loveyounowchange.com or plays411.com.