Already Perfect

At the centre of the show is Kreis himself, playing the mainly autobiographical character Levi, a performer on the brink. Wrestling with identity, past mistakes, and self-acceptance. He is forced by his steadfast sponsor Ben (Yiftach ‘Iffy’ Mizrahi) to fight his current demons, and search for the kid inside himself. And as he breaks into the first musical number, he is more than a little shocked when the kid version of himself, then called Matthew (Killian Thomas Lefyre) burst out of the wall. What follows is a soul-searching journey with all its highs and lows as young and older battle for the truth. With Ben offering a useful foil.

As a trio they deliver powerhouse performances that are as compelling musically as they are theatrically. Kreis’s song writing is top notch and all three voices soar from tender ballads to full-throated gospel with remarkable control and emotional depth, and their chemistry on this small stage is explosive.

It is a daring and tricky piece of storytelling weaving intimate confessions with brash theatricality, and this score stays with you long after the final bows. Yet what its sets up as it’s premise isn’t fully encompassed in the way the story is told. Its mix of very heart-searching gritty moments of self-reflective dialogue gets weakened by the bold choice of interjecting with the audience and the band. Making it seem more concert than theatre. Never truly establishing itself as a cohesive and clear plot.

Still with a richly gifted cast and a score full of heart, Already Perfect is a musical that sings louder than its flaws. And though it may not quite live up to its title in every moment, it achieves something nearly as rare: Vocals and songs that sound like classics on first hearing. Almost perfect, and beautifully so.


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Photo credit: Pamela Raith Photography