'Love List' is Modern Romance at Its Best

By Darcie Flansburg
Real Critics Editor/Publisher

"The Love List" proves, once again, that no one is perfect. No matter how many qualities a person may have, it's all about chemistry.
Play With Your Food's production of the show was right on point.
Director Michael Eastman described "The Love List" best as "'The Odd Couple' meets 'Weird Science.'" The play portrays two oddball friends, Bill (Jared Moore) the statistician (need I say more?) and Leon (Peter Reilly) the adulterous novelist who "wallows in shallow."
The play begins on Bill's 45th birthday. Leon gives Bill a Love List to fill out and return to a gypsy who will match him up with his perfect woman. The two then compile the top 10 qualities that Bill desires in a date. The list includes sense of humor, ambition, speaks her mind, enjoys kissing Bill and oral sex without having to ask for it.
What the two friends don't realize is that the list is powerful. Two hours after Leon leaves with the finished list, Justine (Jeannette A. Gardea) arrives as if she had been in Bill's life all along. And she has all of the qualities that Bill desires.
But, as I was saying, no one is perfect.
Eventually Leon and Reilly realize that they have created Justine with the list and the two continue to change the items to make her perfect.
But what "The Love List" brings to light is the need for both the good and the bad in a companion.
"There's good and bad in everyone. That's what makes us human," Leon says, as Bill desperately tries to fix Justine's problems.
Unlike "Weird Science," Bill and Leon do not gain any self respect from their experience, but they do learn a lesson about love and what it means to have that perfect someone.
Moore and Reilly were the perfect foils for one another. Reilly was realistic and crass while Moore was uptight and slightly awkward. And what made the presentation that much more impressive was that Moore and Reilly were originally cast in opposite roles and only switched roles at the end of the rehearsal process. Gardea played an easily moldable woman. Her movements from one quality to the next were classic and really well timed. She played each "item" extremely well, making the character easily relatable.
It's too bad the show isn't still playing. I know several people that would have benefited from seeing such a topical and comedic play. Well done!

Visit www.playwithyourfoodproductions.com for details on the next show - "The Clean House," June 11-13.