I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Book and lyrics by Joe Di Pietro
Music by Jimmy Roberts
Directed by Janie Lawson
Presented by Free-Rain Theatre Company
Ever been on a painfully awkward first date? Navigated the highs (and lows) of love? Wondered if anyone else goes through the same relationship chaos as you? This hilarious and heartfelt musical revue says it all, out loud.
Told through a series of sharp, relatable vignettes and catchy songs, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change takes you on a rollercoaster ride through modern relationships, from first dates and dating disasters to marriage, babies, children, through to dating preferences of the elderly.
It’s honest. It’s cheeky. It’s way too familiar. And it will have you laughing, cringing, and saying “that is SO me!”
Whether you’re single, coupled up, or somewhere in between, this show is a celebration of love in all its messy, funny, and totally human glory.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a witty musical revue that tackles modern love in all its forms. It is presented in the form of a series of vignettes connected by the central theme of love and relationships.
Act 1 explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while Act 2 reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick up techniques of the elderly set.
This hilarious and insightful revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?”
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change traces the overall arc of relationships throughout the course of a life. It is the second-longest running Off-Broadway musical and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Off-Broadway musical in 1997. It was updated in 2018 to reflect dating in modern times.
Reviews
“This was a clever, witty, fast-paced production, performed by a multi-talented ensemble cast and supported by fine music and technical prowess. … With their many talents, the performers convey joy, frustration, sadness and humour seemingly effortlessly, enabling the audience to live, for a moment, captured within every varied emotion being portrayed on stage. … Janie Lawson has made a stunning debut into the complex art of show direction. … This is a great show which takes its audience on a fabulously entertaining rollercoaster of emotions with belly laughs aplenty along with passive moments of quiet reflection.”
“Director Janie Lawson makes an impressive directorial debut … This is an absolutely delightful show, jam packed with hilarious comedy, catchy tunes and familiar insights into the power and fickle frailty of Love over we mere mortals. … Lawson has gathered an excellent cast of six talented performers, each with their moment to shine, solo or in duet. … Too many magic moments to mention … Off Broadway has come to ACT HUB with a wonderful cast of local performers and this is an opportunity not to miss. Audiences will laugh, some may shed a tear. All will see a bit of their lives performed by a cast that make every moment shine.”
“this is a show that’s played wide and long all over the world simply by being relatable, small scale and quite entertaining. It’s written for a small ensemble playing multiple roles, and in Free-Rain’s production it’s immaculately performed by six performers… it’s fun to see this ensemble in some material that gives their talents room to show off.”
“There were some standout moments… particularly strong because the performers made these people very real. … The striking chessboard-themed set design by Cate Clelland worked very well and Leo Amadeus and Laura Kay provided an appealing musical accompaniment on keyboard and violin respectively.”
Media
Inside the hilarious musical revue for anyone who has ever been in love, tried to be, or given up entirely, HerCanberra, 3 August 2026
First-time director Janie Lawson takes on love in all its messy forms, Canberra Daily, 7 August 2026
Director’s debut is perfect, now she’s changing it, Canberra CityNews, 11 August 2026
Details
When: 19 August – 5 September 2026
Where:
ACT Hub
Causeway Hall, Kingston
14 Spinifex Street, Kingston ACT 2604
Cast
Amelia Andersson-Nickson
Sarah Copley
Connor McNaught
Deborah O’Toole
David Pearson
Sam Thomson
Creatives
Director – Janie Lawson
Assistant Director and Choreographer – Amy Campbell
Musical Director and Keyboard – Leo Amadeus
Violin – Laura Lay
Set Design – Cate Clelland
Concept Set Design – Janie Lawson
Set Realisation – Cate Clelland, Ron Abrahams, Janie Lawson
Lighting Design – Craig Muller
Sound Design – James McPherson
Costume Design – Louise Newey
Properties Acquisition – Janie Lawson, Anne Somes
Stage Manager and Lighting Operator – Liz Phillips
Sound Operator and Mic Technician – Logan Steed
ACT Hub Marketing Manager – Karina Hudson
Graphic Design – Amy Campbell
Producer – Anne Somes
Pre-Production and Production Photography – Janelle McMenamin
Promotional Photography — Andrew Sikorski
Acknowledgements
Jarrad West, Karen Vickery, Craig Deer and Jacob Aquilina – Sidestage, Jackson Dale, Rodney Jenkins, Logan Steed, Free-Rain Theatre Company – Fiona Leach and team, Callum Tolhurst-Close, Sam Thomson, Connor McNaught, Deborah O’Toole, Amelia Andersson-Nickson, Gary Lawson, Mark Field, Perform Australia, Boris the Bear
Key Dates
Preview – Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Preview – Thursday, 20 August 2026
Opening Night – Friday, 21 August 2026