I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Theatrikos Theatre Company, Flagstaff, AZ, July 2, 2026
Reviewed by Lynn Timmons Edwards
Theatrikos in Flagstaff, Arizona continues to up its game with this four-person musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (book and lyrics: Joe Di Pietro; music: Jimmy Roberts), which ran Off-Broadway from 1996 to 2008. It is a delight for both the audience and the actors who get to play over 40 characters in various scenes about love, romance, marriage, and growing old. The production was co-directed by Dani Commanda and Delano Hays, two of the co-founders of Stargazer Collaborative Theatre, with music direction by Sarah Casey and choreography by Sarah Kelley. Flagstaff is a small city that is rich in cultural offerings and talent, and the theaters are happy to share the wealth.
The cast consisted of Jessie Del Quadro Luckey, Gavin Tolbert, Taylor Salazar, and Scott Seaman. They were accompanied beautifully by Leslie Jhung on keyboard, Kate Gregory on violin, and Violet Orchard-Strohmeyer on bass. Artistic Director Jeremy Blunt inherited a community theater and is striving to build a professional regional theater with a partnership with scenic designer David Goldstein, represented by United Scenic Artists. The rest of the creative crew—Bracken Davis (costumes), Jackson Pitts (lighting), Kelli Cvercko (sound), and Colleen Little (props)—deserve kudos as well. The musicians were placed upstage and were integral to every scene and scene change. The actors created both comic and poignant moments that are still relatable to an audience in 2026. Having been married for 30 years, I brought along a good friend on the cusp of her 50th birthday who is still looking for Mr. Right. She grew up in Flagstaff and had not been in the theater building since it was a library in the 1980s. She loved the show, has become Theatrikos’ newest and biggest fan, and assured me that the themes of the show were spot on today.
The directors used the space well, including the use of the aisles and a balcony that I’ve only seen used by musicians previously. The direction brought out the emotional truth of each story with just the right amount of intensity. The pace of the show kept the energy level high, and nearly every musical number was choreographed. In most cases it was delightful. In one case, “Always a Bridesmaid” sung in Act II by Salazar, the choreography was too busy and distracted from what could have been a tour-de-force number for the singer. This was Salazar’s Theatrikos debut, and she showed her triple-threat chops. She was particularly strong in “Tear Jerk,” where she used her head voice, and my favorite “I Can Live with That” where she transformed into an old woman who softened to the idea that love is still possible after losing her life partner. Tolbert, an NAU theater minor student, had only been in one previous show with Theatrikos, and he carried off his characters with confidence. He shined in “Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love with You” and “Marriage Tango.”
Luckey has worked in several shows with Stargazer as well as Theatrikos. She was best when she softened her voice, which can sometimes be high pitched and piercing. She mastered the “Dating Video of Rose Ritz,” a challenging monologue, and she was very funny as the mother in “Hey There, Single Gal/Guy.” She is a ball of energy who clearly loves being on stage. Seaman was perfect with nothing to change. He has worked all over Arizona and his bio did not even mention that he has a dental practice in town. He is a handsome baritone who sings with ease. He never pushes his voice or over-sings. He trusted his mic and knew exactly how much energy he needed for each scene in this small venue. He has years of experience honing these skills, which hopefully the younger singers can absorb over the show’s run, which goes through July 26.
