I Love You Because

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Hudson Backstage Theatre
Through August 7

RECOMMENDED

With book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham and music by Joshua Saltzman, this schmaltzy romantic musical treads familiar predictable terrain in a pleasantly unfamiliar manner. Loosely based on Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, it’s an opposites-attract tale of four young New Yorkers who find true love after tripping over a few bumps on the road.

Austin (Austin MacPhee), a strait-laced greeting card writer, and Marcy (Aly French) a free-spirited photographer, have both broken up with their respective lovers. To Austin’s likable but rough-hewn brother Jeff (Nick Bredosky), the breakup is a good thing, and he urges Austin to get back in the hunt for a new gal. Marcy receives similar counseling from her friend Diana (Shelley Regner), who bases her hunt for Mr. Right on a comical mathematical formula.

At this juncture, it seems that a numbing predictability is on the horizon, but things actually start to mesh when the four meet up for a date at a bar. From from then on, the dance of attraction and repulsion takes over, eventually allowing these four souls to accept one another, in spite of fears of commitment, lingering attachments, and their intractable differences. There are no surprises in the finale, but the somewhat protracted trip to get there does offer enjoyment and fun. The script has a hefty share of jokes and humorous moments, and the music and songs, though not of the readily memorable sort, are nicely varied, with smartly written lyrics that are well performed by the cast and complemented by musical director Elmo Zapp’s splendid five-piece band.

The six person cast turns in steady spirited performances under Rebecca Kenigsberg’s adept direction. Harrison Meloeny and Reesa Marie are terrifically humorous and engaging in multiple roles. Justin Ryan Brown provides a suitable scenic design, segmented into a large ground floor apartment exterior, a bar and an apartment.

 Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; through August 7. www.plays411.com/iloveyoubecause. Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 15 minute intermission.