'I Love You Because' is Rep's Valentine offering
Repertory Philippines stages I Love You Because (ILYB), an Off-Broadway musical retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. With lyrics by Ryan Cunningham and music by Joshua Salzman, ILYB is a delightful story about four individuals; two couples who find love in people and places they least expect.
Austin Bennet (Harold Cruz, A Christmas Carol, Songs for a New World) is a New York-based greeting card writer who stumbles upon his girlfriend Catherine cheating on him with another man. Heartbroken, Austin meets Marcy Fitzwilliams (Caisa Borromeo, Love’s Labours Lost, Hairspray), a free-spirited photographer who piques his curiosity and eventually, his emotions despite her eccentric bohemian ways.
Meanwhile, Marcy’s best friend and uptight actuary Diana Bingley (Kyla Rivera, Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Cinderella Kids) engages in an offbeat love affair with Austin’s slacker of a brother Jeff Bennet (Gabs Santos, Fiddler on the Roof, Mulan Jr.). In the odd couple’s refusal to define what strange connection they have and essentially commit, the two uncover something they least expect. Anna Santamaria (A Christmas Carol, Songs for a New World) and Onyl Torres PETA’s Skin Deep, DUP’s Isang Panaginip na Fili) play multiple character roles that help shape the foursome’s unlikely romances.
Rep veteran Robbie Guevara (Gay birds, Fiddler On The Roof, A Christmas Carol) directs the musical while Francis Matheu choreographs. With them are Mio Infante for set design, Martin Esteva for lights, Onyl Torres as vocal coach, and Jojo Malferrari as both musical director and repetiteur.
ILYB will be showing on all weekends from Feb. 13 to March 8, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:30 p.m. For ticket inquiries and reservations, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or the REP office at 887-0710, or visit www.repertory.ph or www.ticketworld.com.ph.
