Kristen Matson is delicious singing "Always a Bridesmaid."
Katie Nicol is delectable singing "A Stud and a Babe" with Marc Marger and Mike Wallot.
Amy Hitchcock is delicately desirable singing "I Will Be Loved Tonight."
And Kimberly Wooldridge is wickedly delightful singing "Funerals Are for Dating" with Wade Wooldridge.
What is this? Delicious? Delightful? Delectable? Is Cole Porter writing this HAT? No, it's just your favorite old Broadway first-nighter checking in with an enthusiastic round of applause for "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" and the way the Joe DiPietro-Jimmy Roberts off-Broadway all-timer rolled off the blocks opening night Friday at the Cabrillo Playhouse.
San Clemente Community Theatre prez Sally Benedict Jeisy, production director Austin Peay and artistic director Rick Kerrigan have to be popping buttons over the terrific start of the SCCT's 2009-10 season.
Especially Peay, who doubles as director of this fast-moving comical as well as cynical masterpiece, and Kerrigan, who gets right into it with the rest of the cast, belting out such as "Why? Cause I'm a Guy," "The Baby Song" and "Not Tonight, I'm Busy, Busy, Busy."
So the show begins its second week of Thursday-through-Sunday action at 8 p.m. Thursday. It will have only one more "long weekend" after this one before wrapping up its 15-date run with the usual 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Oct. 4. If you miss it, it's your own fault.
In 22 years of trying to keep my fickle finger on the pulse of the playhouse, I have no trouble putting "I Love You" No. 1 or very close in my personal Cabrillo Hall of Fame, along with Joan Ray directing and singing the lead in "Oh, Coward" (a Noel Coward revue) quite a few years ago, Sandy Silver's "So Long on Lonely Street," the Cabrillo's right-on-the-nose treatment of Woody Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" and Cynthia Walker in "Bus Stop."
One warning for those next in line: You have to stay alert. It all moves so quickly from mood to mood and song to song with everybody rushing in and out of the numbers that you can get lost if you blink. Through two acts and 20 different scenes, it bumps and jumps at a sizzling pace.
"Single Man Drought," "Cantata for a First Date," "Tear Jerk," "Scared Straight," "I'll Call You Soon (Yeah, Right)" and "The Lasagna Incident" are among others that don't let you take your eye off the bouncing ball.
To capsulize, which you know is impossible for me, whatta opening! The new "First Friday Gala Opening Night" program with dinner catered on the patio before the play was a big hit, too.
No kidding, even a printed menu introducing "Chef Eddy Rocq from Paris, France." Not Paris, Ind., or Perris, Calif., you understand, but Paris, France, just a recent addition to San Clemente.
He lived up to his billing with "Dungeness Crab Cake with Chipotle Mayonnaise, plus Philo Purses with Mushroom Puree" for hors d'oeuvres, a "Mesclun Salad with homemade Gravlac Salmon, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette" for the entree and a dessert of "Pear Almond Tart on Puffed Pastry with Chocolate Sauce."
Coffee, wine and water, too. The next Friday Gala Opening Night will be Oct. 23 for "Lend Me a Tenor." Call the box office (949-492-0465) to get in line or to catch up with Kristen, Katie, Amy, Kimberly, Rick, Marc, Mike and Wade.
Our compliments indeed to all the "I Love You" cast, prez Sally, the director, musical director Diane King Vann and the entire SCCT board, as well as the chef from Paris, France.