“I really like you regardless of who you’re.”
Yikes. As love confessions go, it’s not precisely a promising begin. However wait — in probably the most well-known love tales of all time, Jane Austen’s Satisfaction and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy first declares that he loves Elizabeth Bennet towards his will, towards his motive, and even towards his character. Understandably, she’s offended. However from these inauspicious beginnings blossoms a ravishing love story.
So is the case with Windfall Gamers’ I Love You As a result of, a modern-day homage to Satisfaction and Prejudice that proves that love can overcome even the worst first impressions or persona clashes. Meet uptight greeting card author Austin Bennet (Preston Grover) and free-spirited photographer Marcy Fitzwilliams (Molly Dorion), each on the rebound from nasty breakups.
Satisfied by her analytical finance girlie greatest pal, Diana Bingley (Willow Mitchener), that one of the best ways to seek out Mr. Proper is to first hit all-time low with Mr. Unsuitable, Marcy units her sights on Austin as her worst potential match. As for Austin, he’s so obsessed along with his ex-girlfriend that he barely notices Marcy till she begins serving to him work on the right poem to win again his ex. As you may think, the 2 fall in love — first regardless of their persona variations, then finally, due to them.
In the meantime, Diana finds an much more unlikely match with Austin’s weird and uncouth brother, Jeff (a hilariously deadpan Eduardo Perez-Reyes). The 2 met on Jdate, though neither one is definitely Jewish. Each tales are backed by Karey L. Hart and Justin Latus as a collection of fly-on-the-wall New Yorkers — waiters, baristas, bartenders, anybody who you’ve ever suspected was gossiping about your love life behind your again. Hart and Latus’s sturdy voices mix splendidly in all of their musical numbers.
You may assume a musical rom-com a couple of greeting card author peppered with Jane Austen references feels like the right present to convey Grandma to. However be forewarned — the humor on this piece is surprisingly raunchy and profanity-laced, and the characters discuss fairly frankly about intercourse all through. Then once more, perhaps do convey Grandma. On the Thursday night time efficiency, fairly just a few senior residents led the viewers in uproarious laughter — together with and particularly on the dirtiest jokes.
By far the most important viewers response of the night belonged to a really humorous sequence wherein Diana tries to seduce Jeff, solely to grievously injure his again. (A well-timed sound impact by Bob Hannan added a particular one thing to the second.) The viewers howled with laughter and hid their faces of their palms in equal measure. Kudos to intimacy choreographer Stephanie Davis for conserving issues each artistic and secure. For his or her half, Mitchener and Perez-Reyes are greater than sport to lean into the cringeworthiness of all of it.
Jeff and Diana usually steal the present with their pleasant eccentricities. Diana orders precisely 2/7ths of a cup of cream in her espresso and sells an exquisite acronym-riddled patter tune about calculating the mathematically very best “rebound time” after a breakup. Jeff makes use of the improper phrases for every little thing — he calls an abacus an “albatross” — and doesn’t have a romantic bone in his physique. (The abacus is a present for Diana, plucked proper out of the trash!)
Their risque duet, “We’re Simply Pals,” is one other spotlight of the present with enjoyable vaudeville-inspired choreography by Stacy Crickmer. They might even convey a tear to your eye once they confess their honest emotions for each other, malapropisms and all.
The extra typical love story on the coronary heart of the musical requires subtler performances however no much less ability, and Grover and Dorion construct a convincing dynamic all through. Each showcase beautiful hovering vocals on their romantic ballads and show skillful storytelling by way of tune — wanted, as a result of the songs come thick and quick right here! Their love grows by way of noticing the little particulars — how he takes his espresso, her favourite flowers. To be cherished is to be identified.
I Love You As a result of shouldn’t be an action-packed trip of a present however a considerate journey alongside the 2 odd {couples}. By the top of two hours, Austin, Marcy, Diana, and even foolish outdated Jeff will look like your outdated buddies. When all 4 voices be part of collectively on “However I Do” and finale quantity “I Love You As a result of,” all of it feels well-earned.
They’re backed all through by a small however mighty five-piece band led by music director Sean MacCarthy-Grant. Colin Taylor will get some notably pleasing saxophone solos. The music, composed by Joshua Salzman, is commonly fairly catchy, with witty lyrics by Ryan Cunningham.
The set, designed by Invoice Brown and constructed by a formidable crew led by Thomas Barrett and David Whitehead, cleverly opens like a card to change between Austin’s and Marcy’s residences. Allison Grey-Mendes’s set ornament helps set the tone with posters for the Bennet bros’ bachelor pad and artsy images for Marcy’s bed room. One nook of the stage serves as a bar and occasional store, although just a few different settings are rather less clearly established.
With regards to “settings,” the musical payments itself as a “Fashionable-day musical love story,” however it additionally initially premiered in 2005. This provides artistic groups a tough alternative: retain the “modern-day” milieu, or flip it into an unintentional interval piece of the mid-aughts?
The artistic workforce right here, led by director Jason Damaso, appears to have opted to set it within the current, judging by the costumes and the cell telephones proven each onstage and on the present’s paintings. If this implies just a few dated references like Moviefone sneak in, it solely additional reinforces how caught up to now Austin is.
Costumes by Robbie Snow convey out each character’s persona, from Diana’s polished day-to-night apparel to Jeff’s limitless array of corny graphic tees. Marcy’s boho-chic outfits create the right distinction to Austin’s interchangeable costume shirts and ties.
For probably the most half, the singing and dialogue carry clearly within the cozy theater, although at just a few factors, lead vocalists appear overwhelmed by backing vocals or the full of life band. Lighting by Ari McSherry fades to black at simply the suitable occasions!
Like every good relationship, I Love You As a result of is stuffed with little surprises. Nonetheless, that is an unabashedly acquainted love story for the fashionable age, soiled jokes and all. It’s excellent for a date night time or a enjoyable ladies’ night time — or go solo and let it encourage you to increase your horizons and take a look at new issues. Simply go straightforward in your backbone. (Or don’t — all of it appeared to work out simply wonderful for Jeff and Diana!)
Operating Time: Two hours and quarter-hour, together with a 10-minute intermission.
I Love You As a result of performs by way of Saturday, June 27, 2026, offered by Windfall Gamers of Fairfax acting at on the James Lee Group Middle, 2855 Annandale Highway, Falls Church, VA. The closing efficiency begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets can be found on-line.
I Love You As a result of
Music by Joshua Salzman
E-book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham
Orchestrations by Larry Hochman
CAST
Austin Bennet: Preston Grover
Jeff Bennet: Eduardo Perez-Reyes
Marcy Fitzwilliams: Molly Dorion
Diana Bingkey: Willow Mitchener
Cocktail Waitress, Barista, Neighbor, Chinese language Meals Restaurant Supervisor, New York Metropolis Lady: Karey L. Hart
Bartender, Barista, Waiter, Chinese language Meals Restaurant Waiter, New York Metropolis Man: Justin Latus
THE MUSICIANS
Conductor and Keyboard 1: Sean MacCarthy-Grant
Keyboard 2: Joe Faber
Reed: Colin Taylor
Bass: Matt Majors
Drums/Percussion: Jake Gunter (June 12-21) and Emilie Taylor (June 26-28)
Audition Pianist: Dante Walker
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Director: Jason Damaso
Producer: Mike Dazé
Stage Supervisor: Brian Appich
Music Director: Sean MacCarthy-Grant
Choreographer: Stacy Crickmer
Set Design: Invoice Brown
Set Building Leads: Thomas Barrett, David Whitehead
Set Portray: Allison Grey-Mendes
Set Ornament: Allison Grey-Mendes
Lighting Design: Ari McSherry
Sound Design: Bob Hannan
Costume Design: Robbie Snow
Hair and Make-Up Design: Abby Smith
Intimacy Choreographer: Stephanie Davis
Set Building Crew: Brian Appich, Dave Bernero, Anthony Breder, Jason Damaso, Preston Grover, Bob Hannan, Kevin Harmisch, Karey L. Hart, Justin Latus, Mike McLaughlin, Chuck O’Toole, Douglas Thayer
Pictures: Chip Gertzog
Field Workplace and Ticket Gross sales: Mike Dazé
Home Administration: Kathi Ranowsky
Playbill: Amanda Ranowsky
Playbill Design: Ellen Burns
Playbill Promoting: Jayne L. Victor
Advertising: Amanda Ranowsky
