BROS completed its run of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in triumph after an exhausting and hugely thrilling week. This is a musical comedy – celebrating ‘the mating game’; the truths and myths behind heterosexual ‘relationships’. It is basically a bunch of funny / satirical songs and short scenes which deal with various relationships in various stages of development or decline! – Act 1 details the journey from dating and waiting, to becoming lovers, and so to marriage. Act 2 reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and the pick up techniques of the geriatric set.

The songs are sung by a range of different and unconnected characters and there is no story as such, although there is a kind of chronology from the early stages of relationships through to the later stages of life. In order to provide structure the piece is topped and tailed with a prologue/epilogue and also a four times repeated /altered ‘cantata’ keeps the ‘narrative’ such as it is, on track. The reason this show works is because of the hope and compassion that comes through despite the cynical / satirical nature of much of the humour.

The show was originally produced Off Broadway with a company of only four performers, but would definitely benefit from being performed by a larger company. It needs singers who can act and who are happy taking on a range of different roles and being part of an ensemble. There is no room for ‘stars’ but there is plenty of opportunity for individuals to shine.