The musical I Love My Wife attempts to get some mild amusement from a couple of New Jersey couples who in 1977 try to catch up with the sexual revolution that has just about finished changing the culture as much as it's going to. And I Love My Wife does get some mild amusement, more from New Line's production than from Michael Stewart's book and sometimes-witty lyrics or from Cy Coleman's score, the work of a seasoned Broadway pro but with nothing you're likely to be singing in the shower the next morning.
Wally, played by Jeffrey M. Wright, who's an ornament to any production he's in, has been hearing about the joys of group sex and wants to indulge before it's too late. He tries to talk his wife, an easily-shocked Sarah Armstrong, into sharing their bed with another woman. She's more open to a threesome that includes two men and a woman. So Wally tries to persuade his buddy Alvin to bring his wife over for a foursome. Todd Schaefer plays the reluctant Alvin, reminding us of what a terrific actor – and singer – Schaefer is. His wife warms to the idea – or at least appears to – more quickly than Alvin, and Emily Berry has fun with her teases.
The men's three pals, played by Zachary Allen Farmer, Troy Turnipseed and Joel Hackbarth, form a commenting chorus throughout. It's almost worth the price of admission to see Farmer's blond bowl-cut wig.
Justin Smolik leads the accompanying five-piece band. A huge bed dominates Todd Schaefer's set. Period dress is by Thom Crain and lighting by Kenneth Zinkl. Scott Miller directs, nicely framing the choral numbers and using Schaefer's set and the stage in the Washington University South Campus theatre to good comic effect. But I Love My Wife, probably past its pull date, registers low on the racy scale.
