If you’ve ever been in love, or attempted to navigate the complicated path of modern romance, there’s something in this play that will feel familiar.
By Franchesca L. Tuazon
Love in this day and age is anything but a fairytale. Yes, there might be cute kilig (giddy) moments, grand gestures or long sweet messages, but there’s also that awkward first date, “ghosting” or even the dreaded “what are we?” conversations. And with the endless swiping on dating applications, failed “reto” setups and red flags to watch out for, finding “the one” today can feel like a wild roller coaster adventure.
This is exactly the kind of ride Repertory Philippines takes its audience on with its hilarious and heartwarming musical comedy, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (ILYYPNC).
After its successful run last year, REP has brought back this off-Broadway favorite to kick off its 88th season, proving that love—despite its complications—never goes out of style. Running until March 9 at the REP Eastwood Theater, the show takes audiences through the highs and lows of romance, dating, marriage and everything in between.
With book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Brooks, this production was given a fresh touch in 2024 by none other than the first lady of Philippine Musical Theater, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. And of course she went beyond expectations—despite being first staged in 1996, the show’s take on relationships remains painfully and hilariously relatable.
What makes this production such a joy to watch is its brilliant structure. Rather than focusing on just one couple, ILYYPNC goes through a series of vignettes, each capturing a different phase of love and relationships. And here’s what’s amazing: only four actors play almost 40 different roles, effortlessly shifting from one character to another and keeping the audience engaged and entertained.
Gian Magdangal, Gabby Padilla, Krystal Kane and Marvin Ong return to the stage to deliver yet another masterclass in versatility, with Davy Narciso and Barbara Jance as swings. Watching them transform in an instant—from hopeless romantics to frustrated spouses, from singles in the dating trenches to senior citizens finding love again—is like watching theatrical magic happen before your eyes. Gian is a prisoner one minute, and the next, a wedding priest officiating a ceremony. And somehow, it all makes perfect sense.
Each vignette shows a different take on love, and every single one is as witty as it is insightful. There’s the giddy anticipation of “I Will Be Loved Tonight” before a first date, the bittersweet reflection of “Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love With You?” from a husband, and the online dating struggles of a middle-aged woman in “The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz.” And just when you think love is only for the young, the show moves you with “I Can Live With That,” a charming vignette about senior citizens finding companionship.
Marvin’s character reflects on making a choice to love one’s spouse everyday in Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love With You?; Gian and Krystal portray seniors dealing with loneliness and wanting companionship in Funerals are for Dating.
Since its staging, ILYYPNC has been cited as one of the highlights of the 2024 theater scene by the media, critics and theater fans. It has also been nominated and cited for 13 Gawad Buhay Awards and two Aliw Awards, including Female Lead Performance in a Musical for Kane and Padilla, Male Lead Performance in a Musical for Magdangal and Ong, Outstanding Musical Direction by Ejay Yatco, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical for Lauchengco-Yulo, and Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical. Padilla was also nominated as Best Lead Actress in a Musical for the Aliw Awards 2024 while the production was nominated for Best Musical Play.
The cast’s vocal performances are nothing short of spectacular, and the chemistry is palpable—enough to make even the most cynical audience member believe in love again, or at least believe in the comedic value of bad dates.
Gabby and Krystal return as Woman 1 and Woman 2, while Gian and Marvin return as Man 2 and Man 1 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
A great show, of course, wouldn’t be complete without an exceptional creative team. Musical director Yatco brings every note to life, Stephen Viñas’ choreography adds to the fun, and Joey Mendoza’s set and costume design seamlessly adapt to the ever-changing characters and scenarios. Quick changes? Nailed. Lighting and sound? On point. The entire production team, from the technical crew to the musicians, works perfectly together, making sure each moment lands flawlessly.
ILYYPNC reminds us that love is messy, unpredictable and sometimes just ridiculous—but isn’t that what makes it worth it? Whether you’re single, taken, married, heartbroken or in this weird situationship with someone, this musical comedy is guaranteed to leave you laughing, or maybe even tearing up.
Catch it while you can at REP Eastwood Theater before it closes on March 9—you’ll never know, you might just see your love story in one of its scenes.
For show buying, sponsorships and tickets, contact REP at 0962-691-8540 and 0966-905-4013 or email sales@repphil.org and info@repphil.org, or inquire through this link: https://linktr.ee/repertoryphilippines. Tickets will be available via TicketWorld and Ticket2Me.
For updates and show schedules, visit www.repertoryphilippines.ph, or like and follow @repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram.
