BWW Reviews: I LOVE YOU BECAUSE @ Studio 1398 - Hit Off-Broadway Musical Lands in Vancouver

The show is billed as a "modern day musical love story", and it couldn't be more accurate. 

Intimate Theatre Productions presents the Joshua Salzman/Ryan Cunningham musical which was first presented Off-Broadway in 2006 and is loosely based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice at Studio 1398 on Granville Island until February 25, 2012.

Aaron Lau, a Vancouver-based actor, is the founding Artistic Producer for Intimate Theatre Productions. Lau has been seen in such shows as The Will Rogers Follies, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and West Side Story, and plays the role of NYC Man in the production. For their inaugural production, he has assembled some of Vancouver's finest young talent, including Sayer Roberts, Erin Palm, Victor Hunter, Harper Smith, and Sheryl Anne McMillan to round out the cast.

Shel Piercy and Shelley Stewart Hunt, who have worked together on numerous Theatre Under the Stars productions, including 2011's Bye, Bye, Birdie, serve as director and choreographer, respectively. Musical direction is by Kerry O'Donovan, with costumes by Christina Sinosich, and set design by Francesca Albertazzi.

I Love You Because tells the story of Austin Bennet (Sayer Roberts) who is madly in love with his girlfriend Kathleen - until he finds her cheating on him. His brother, Jeff (Victor Hunter) encourages him to move on, and takes him on a blind double date with Marcy Fitzwilliams (Erin Palm) and Diana Bingley (Harper Smith). While Jeff and Diana hit it off, Austin talks about Kathleen all night to Marcy, which complicates things. Austin and Marcy stike up a friendship, but as is in most musicals, it develops into something more, and they end up falling in love with each other.

It's a simple story which is perfect for this time of year - February is a month where we celebrate all things related to "love", and so why not celebrate it with a fluffy, light-hearted musical?

I Love You Because is running at Studio 1398 until February 25. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. For more information on Intimate Theatre Productions, click on their website.