Director: Sterre Maier
Institution: Chung-Ang University, Korea
Venue: North Theatre
Time: 19:30, May 18, 2011
Event: ATEC 6th International Forum
Director’s Notes
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change does not only have a very long title, it also has a wide variety of musical styles and characters, but no a solid storyline. The show takes us on a hilarious journey through all stages of life when we are searching for that special someone to share our hopes, dreams and secrets with. It is not so much about love, but more about the search for our lover. But is there only one partner for each and every one of us, and if so, how will we find that one person?
"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle." -- Amy Bloom
We tend to have such high standards created by dreams, society and even celebrity ideals that it seems impossible for anyone to fit that profile, not to mention having to fit in such a profile ourselves. The human nature is not easily satisfied, so especially the one person we want to spend our lives with has to live up to high expectations. But do not despair, it seems that we have found a solution; if they are not perfect we can always try to change them. For as long as we know lovers have tried to change each other until they were satisfied; even Juliet wanted Romeo to give up his name!
"Women marry men hoping they will change. Men marry women hoping they will not. So each is inevitably disappointed." -- Albert Einstein
This wonderfully rich musical comedy shows us that love is never perfect but we certainly keep trying to create perfection. But then the question arises what would happen if there were no flaws left. Would we not be helpless if there was nothing to want or long for? And can we accept imperfection and learn to appreciate perfection with flaws?
It has been great privilege to work with the very talented students of Chung-Ang University. After working in England and Bulgaria I am used to working in languages other than my native language, Dutch, but a translated script is always a challenge. The translation has to be not only verbally but also culturally correct. Speaking only a few words in Korean does not make it easier, but since we are playing the show abroad it might actually have been helpful. It requires a different approach, ensuring that the message comes across through more than words alone. And luckily the theme is universal and therefore hardly different in any language. The human drift to search for love and try to alter our loved ones seems to accrue from a time far before the tower of Babel divided our communication into different languages. And comedy is a universal language on its own, especially in the case of "schadenfreude" (pleasure derived from the misfortune of others) which we a secretly enjoy so much because it's not happening to us, or at least we don't have to admit it is.
Though the scenes in the show are exaggerated for theatrical purposes they still reflect the reality of our daily struggles with relationships in our continuous search for Mr. Right (or Mr. Right Now) we do not easily dare to be ourselves. We all have different experiences but it seems inevitable to get hurt in love. So we bring our baggage into the next relationship and try to behave more cautious, which then keeps from opening up and being honest. The actors however have picked up the challenge to be real and vulnerable, to give us a truthful, genuine reflection of love based on their own experience and observations. After all we cannot help but agree:
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return"-- Eden Ahbez
Synopsis
"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" is a musical revue, which portrays love and relationships in all different phases of life. The show narrates 16 short independent stories connected by the central theme of dating, starting with the first date through to marriage and even death. With this variety of situations the musical also covers a wide range of musical styles like blues, country and gospel, and even roles; only 6 actors play over 50 different characters. Although it closed in 2008 it is the second-longest running Off Broadway musical, after The Fantasticks. Its success resulted in translations in 13 languages and shows in over 400 cities worldwide.
The production has been the setting of over 60 marriage proposals from audience members; audiences worldwide sensed that the show is not entirely cynical about the idea of two people sharing their lives together (all proposals were accepted). The witty but honest approach quickly creates a relationship between the material and the audience based on understanding, maybe embarrassment and definitely love. Whether it touches or amuses, it always allows people to recognize themselves.