Stage West Calgary's "I Love You Because" - review

Stage West Calgary

"I Love You Because"

featuring 

Daniel Abrahamson, Justin Bott, Jay Davis,

Steffi DiDomenicantonio, Lindsey Frazier, Blair Irwin

(photo courtesy of Stage West Calgary)

The Sunday Morning "Somebody-Asked-Me-To, So-Here-I-Go" Entertainment Review:

Stage West Calgary's production of 

"I Love You Because"

I could subtitle this piece "My Austin Weekend". Friday night I enjoyed a group of amazing singer songwriters from Austin Texas, performing "in the round". Last night, the lead character in this terrific new Stage West Calgary offering was called Austin. Coincidence? Karma? 

Well, that all said, this latest offering makes a person a fast fan of Austin, regardless of the circumstances. Playing on the age-old themes of rocky relationships and finding that special someone, you're bound to find yourself heartily enjoying this cast of quirky characters as they feel their way around in the darkness of the dating world.

I will admit, the introduction of the characters takes a little while, but as the play moves along you get engaged quickly by the trio of three duos (I've got a fun observation about one "couple" that I have to hold back for my official Calgary Herald review). Act Two benefits from knowing the characters and speeds along with a great blend of humour paired with some fun songs - this is a musical love story after all!

Featuring solid, convincing performances by Daniel Abrahamson, Justin Bott, Jay Davis, Steffi D, Lindsey Frazier and Blair Irwin, this youthful modern take on the screwball comedy doesn't linger overlong with stereotypical characters or situations - although the script/book does utilize those to be sure. Where the play rises above those potential pitfalls was in each actor making these characters likeable. No matter how neurotic some may have been...

You know all will work out in the end, but the journey is filled with enough fun to keep you smiling through to that finale.

Awkward segue - I have to mention the enormous set - is the stage there really THAT big? The open, breezy set was effective to move the scenes around different settings, but also caught your attention visually.

I could go on and on, but then what would I have for my Herald review? I'll post a link to that when it runs, and I look forward to having some fun with this cast for my next "Talkin' With" interview - again a link back when that goes live...

If you like quirky characters, lovers that seem to go in opposite directions to find each other, and some delightful music that swings between laughs and heartfelt emotion, you will definitely want to check out "I Love You Because".

Later!