Stevens Dramatic Society partnered with Theta Alpha Phi – the theater honor society –for a performance of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” under direction of David Zimmerman. “I Love You…” featured multiple independent scenes describing love through dating, marriage, death, and every part in between. This was the fifth year that a fall production has included current students, staff, and alumni.
The first act of the play focused on relationships prior to marriage with the first number “Cantata for a First Date,” featuring the entire cast, at the beginning – the first date. “Cantata” described everyone’s mind prior to a first date. From dieting to makeup for women, to shaving and hair for men, the focus on the song was built up to ringing the doorbell. Each side in relationships described their similar inner thoughts: they each hoped that they would impress the other person and that the other person would meet some of their dreams. Later numbers in the act focused on issues after a relationship forms in the humorous way. In “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” the play explored couples not being satisfied during sex. The play’s solution: hire a consulting agency to mediate between the couple. The act ended with “Wedding Vows” which described some of the “unforgotten commitments” that come with marriage.
In the second act, the play described the issues associated with relationships from marriage until death. In “Whatever Happened to Baby’s Parents?”, the song describes the issue in which parents’ lives become consumed by having a child. To outsiders, they have lost their past interests and their only pastime is caring for their child. The next number, “Sex and the Married Couple,” explored how hard a seemingly simple act before marriage – sex – is more difficult after marriage and children. In this act, a couple describes how they must each put off issues and chores – including laundry and putting kids to sleep – in order to make the time to have sex. Later in the act, “Funerals are for dating” described the dire turn relationships take after death. Even after a partner’s death, people may still look for love even if they will not love them as much as their past partner. The act concluded with the musical’s title track which simply explained both man and woman’s endless desire for love despite the issues that accompany it.
“I Love You…” featured a wide array of cast members from Stevens Dramatic Society students, alumni, and Stevens staff members. Cast members include current students Julia Cahn, and Ian Digiulio, alumni Barbara Carames, Matthew Levine, Devon Lineman, Natalie Marone, Michael Munley, Michael Paulauski, Frank Riccobono, and Kieran Walters. Also featured are current Stevens staff members Kristie Damell, Associate Dean of Students, as well as Robert Gonzales Jr, Director of Event Management.
SDS’s next production is “Rumors” on Friday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
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