Theater Assessment: “I Love You, You are Good, Now Change” at SHU
Assessment by Nancy Sasso Janis
The scholars within the Performing Arts Theatre Arts Program at Sacred Coronary heart College have chosen to current one among my favourite little musicals, “I Love You, You’re Good, Now Change.” The musical, with a hysterical guide and lyrics by Joe DePietro and music by Jimmy Roberts, has been revised for the twenty first century. The longest -running Off-Broadway revue in historical past continues in The Little Theatre black field on the Sacred Coronary heart campus in Fairfield by Feb. 19.
“I Love You…” is a celebration of the mating recreation that takes on the truths and myths behind the up to date conundrum generally known as ‘“the connection.” Act I of the musical explores the journey from relationship and ready to like and marriage, after which Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, hilarious journeys within the household automotive, and ending with poignant pick-up strategies of the geriatric set. The 2018 model of the musical options two new songs, revised lyrics and dialogue all through the present designed to replicate relationship in fashionable instances.
Justin Zenchuk makes a powerful directorial debut within the Little Theatre at Sacred Coronary heart and directs the scholars with a eager eye to the entire comedy within the script. Zenchuk works on campus because the Director of Performing Arts Recruitment and Retention and has been a director, choreographer, lighting designer and actor at Middle Stage Theatre in Shelton for 17 years.
The director was a delight because the Ghost of Christmas Current within the latest Theatre Arts Program manufacturing of “A Christmas Carol.” Zunchuk was assisted by senior media arts main Zack Gaiero.
Leo Carusone, the Director of Theatre at Sacred Coronary heart, served as musical director and Tom Morris is superb as he performs the rating on a small piano. Senior Kimmy Johnson and Hadley Bansal, a junior, had been co-producers of the present.
Each one of many college students on this forged of 4 carry a lot expertise to their performances. All of them have spectacular singing voices that mix fantastically for the harmonies within the rating and show nice comedian timing.
Christopher Conte (Man #1) has such allure onstage. The junior strategic communications and theater arts double main appeared in (title of present) as Jeff and “A Refrain Line” as Mark. Paul Keegan, a senior media arts/theater arts double main, shines in the entire comedic features of the function of Man #2.
Grace Kelly Kretzmer makes her Little Theatre debut as Girl #2 and sings very well. Julianna Rezza, a senior double main in biology and theater arts with a minor in writing, makes probably the most of her function as Girl #1. Her soprano voice shines in “I Will Be Liked.” Her SHU credit embrace Abigail Williams in “The Crucible” and Diana Morales in “A Refrain Line.”
Kiley Ondash, a sophomore who carried out as Susan in (title of present), was answerable for the flattering hair and make-up design. Marykate Kiley has costumed 11 earlier productions and does nice work with the essential black foundations accented with colourful add-on items. Since Kiley is a senior nursing main with theater and honors minors, it will mark her last Little Theatre manufacturing. Freshman Sage Sperling was assistant costume designer.
The set consists of 4 white doorways for every of the forged members, every lit with their private shade.
Nora Serrao, who additionally labored on (title of present), confirmed off her lighting design abilities on this manufacturing. Sam Deluise was lighting advisor. Matt Cordova will get the credit score for designing the pleasant assortment of props. Cordova was the sound designer for “A Christmas Carol.”
On opening evening it was nice to see a multi-generational viewers, and the sturdy help of the college college students was enjoyable to expertise. The younger adults genuinely loved the present as they got here out in spectacular numbers to see the performances of their classmates
There are numerous four-letter phrases within the script and a few sexual innuendo. The efficiency is offered with one ten-minute intermission. Tickets on-line at edgertoncenter.org, on the Edgerton Middle Field Workplace in particular person Monday- Friday, 12-4, or on the telephone at (203)371-7908
The Little Theatre is situated on the Sacred Coronary heart campus at 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield.
Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre critiques since 2012 as a technique to help native venues, posts nicely over 100 critiques annually. In 2016, her membership within the Connecticut Critics Circle started and her contributions of theatrical critiques, previews, and audition notices are posted not solely within the Naugatuck Patch but additionally on the Patch websites closest to the venue. She lately turned a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre critiques seem within the Thursday Weekend part of the paper.
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