Portraying over 50 characters, a cast of four local theatre gurus – namely Marc Williams, Kay Mosiane, Megan Francis and Marcel Corson – star in Amanda Bothma’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change starting at the Guild Theatre on Wednesday.
As one of the longest running off-Broadway musicals to date, the satirical production delves into the world of relationships and love throughout life.
“It’s very raw, very real and extremely relatable in a comical way,” said Williams who plays nine different characters in the first act alone. Performing up to 15 roles each, the charismatic cast members have been working hard rehearsing six nights a week for the last month.
“Many of them have worked with me before in the pantomimes when they were younger and it’s been wonderful to watch them grow and achieve their goals. They are a fantastic and talented group and I’m really proud of them,” said Bothma, who is also the show’s director.
“It’s challenging to be so many different characters especially because each role is a comical caricature. Even though we have to make it fun and make audiences laugh, we need to bring a sense of honesty to each role, we can’t just play around with it,” said Corson. Francis said working with such an exceptional cast has, however, made a difficult job much easier.
“We all know each other and some of us have worked together before so it’s created a very open artistic space, we’re all open to new ideas and everyone has a really great work ethic.”
Mosiane said that rehearsals had been an incredible learning experience, with each performer feeding off the other’s quirks and talents.
“It’s been a lot of fun, both on and off stage. We have so many inside jokes and Marcel’s one-liners are the greatest.”
Exploring nervous first-date jitters, different sexual orientations, lack of suitable partners, heartbreak, sexting, marriage, divorce and even the death of a partner, audiences can expect a candid portrayal of love and life, delivered in the most hysterically entertaining and honest way.
“I think everyone, from young adults to older married couples, will be able to take something from the musical,” said Bothma.
“The musical shows the hilarious – and often absurd – lengths people will go to for love. The lies in the dialogues and the truths in the singing portray this perfectly,” Corson said.
With choreography by Sonwa Sakuba, music by Jacques du Plessis and stage management by Jeanne Mould tying the show together, audiences are in for a treat.
lThe show runs until September 21 with performances at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Computicket at R120 per person...