I Love You Because

~~The Musical “I Love You Because” produced and performed by Chorley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society is a modern musical love story with clever humorous lyrics written by Ryan Cunningham, and music by Joshua Salzman, set in modern-day New York. The story is loosely based on Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice and was first performed off-Broadway in 2006 at the Village Theatre  New York.
 I had never heard of or seen this show before and what a very pleasant surprise we had watching an outstanding enjoyable production with an interesting take on modern day life and relationships. Directed by Paul Carr who had in his charge six very talented young actors and singers which were divided up into four main characters, plus two versatile multipurpose supporting characters, all of whom produced first-rate performances supporting each other well with no weak links and doing a very good job of bringing out the humor in this show. The story centers on unlucky-in-love strangers, conservative greeting card writer Austin Bennet (Steven England) and Marcy Fitzwilliams(Lucy Whigham) a free-spirited ultra-liberal photographer, who have both recently split from their long-term partners and are now taking advise on relationships from two very humorous characters namely Austin’s likeable brother Jeff Bennet (Nathan Nugent) and Macy’s best friend Diana Bingley (Amy Lovae). When Jeff and Diana arrange a double date through a dating website, the four of them meet for the first time, the two pairs are soon mutually attracted and become involved.  While Jeff and Diana hit it off straight away, Marcy and Austin’s relationship falls apart when Austin starts talking about his ‘amazing’ ex-girlfriend.  Eventually they meet again and become friends, however being very different characters they argue a lot but in the end despite their differences they fall in love. Filling the important numerous smaller cameo roles were two actors Natalie Howarth and Richard Cook whose performances were also well received. All the cast had an abundance of comic instinct which is very important in this fast paced show, diction, clarity of words and American accents were spot on and the pace of the action was just right.
The set as usual had been well thought out to suit the production with a centre turntable which resulted in quick fluid changes from one scene to the next and along with very good sound lighting and contemporary costumes enriched the production and made a good efficient platform and atmosphere for the cast to work on. Well done to the set builders, stage and technical crew and all backstage workers
 The band led by Musical Director Matthew Peter Clare played excellently supporting the cast very well and the quality of singing in this production was outstanding.
 Congratulations to Director Paul Carr, Producer Jaqueline Green, Musical Director Mathew Peter Clare and Choreographer Kate Burke, for bringing to the stage this first-rate charming production from which I am sure the audience went home very happy.
 

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