Interview: Atherton and Lipkin On I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE

It's Off-Broadway's second longest-running production and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is being welcomed back to London for a limited run next month featuring a supremely talented cast. Gina Beck (most recently seen as Glinda in Wicked) and Samuel Holmes (Spamalot, Water Babies) are joined by Julie Atherton and Simon Lipkin who are being reunited again in a production for the first time since being part of the Original London cast of Avenue Q nearly a decade ago.

BWW:UK caught up with this characterful and gifted twosome in their final week of rehearsals:

Julie and Simon, are you pleased to be reunited with each other for ILYYPNC?

J: Yes, always. Don't tell Simon that though.

S: Absolutely! Avenue Q still stands as one of my favourite experiences and the cast were a large part of that - apart from Julie, that is, so I guess this is a good opportunity to rectify that. *Julie punches Simon*

You are both really good friends as well as work colleagues. What are the best and worst qualities about each other?

J: Simon doesn't share his food, but at least he's funny.

S: Julie isn't funny, but luckily she shares her food. *Julie punches Simon harder*

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is a series of vignettes rather than having a fixed storyline. How does this capture and maintain the audience's interest?

J: You can relate to almost all of the scenes in this piece and people are generally interested in things they can can relate to.

S: Totally. Rather than being based on a film or book, this show is based on relationships and love; something that everyone's been through. *Julie punches Simon again...Simon looks confused*

Have you seen any previous productions of the show? If so, what makes this one different?

J: I've never seen a full production, only excerpts, so I have nothing to compare it to.

S: I haven't either, but the other cast members are what drew me to the project.

What do you think is the show's key to success?

J: It's genuinely funny, well written and people can relate to it.

S: It's also very short, so you're in the bar before any other show!

Julie, you have championed new musical theatre for years. Do you have a hot tip on a new production we should keep our eyes peeled for in the future?

J: Anything written by Craig Adams. He wrote Lift and Therese Raquin - I'm really in love with his work.

Simon, you have worked on many large scale musicals but also a number of smaller fringe productions. With the Arts Theatre being an intimate space, how do you feel about seeing the whites of the audiences eyes whilst performing?

S: I much prefer this to performing in big theatres. You can play all the subtle nuances of comedy that don't come across in larger spaces, so it's a real test for us actors and I personally think, far more enjoyable for the audience.

Julie, are there any more plans for your company, Notes From New York, of which you are a founder?

Not at the moment, but we're still incredibly proud of what we did. We wanted to start a discussion about new work and hopefully that's what we achieved.

Simon, you've become a bit of a heartthrob over the years and did a very memorable issue of Gay Times! How do you feel about this status?!

S: My mother would agree with you all.

Is there anything you haven't yet done professionally which you would like to?

J: I don't think either of us have ever done anything professionally!

The show is all about relationships so finally: Julie, what are men really thinking?

J: Who knows? Most of the time... not enough.

Simon, what do women really want?

S: Is it a 6ft 2, quirky Jewish musical theatre performer?

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change plays at London's Arts Theatre from the 1-18 July 2015.

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