The Wedding Singer

Photo Credit: Ian Lawson Photography

Reviewed by: Patricia Connor on 27 June 2019
Venue: Little Theatre - Southport
Date: 26-29 Jun 2019
Type of Production:  Musical
Book, Lyrics & Music: Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy
Music by Matthew Sklar Lyrics by Chad Beguelin

Directed by Stephen Hughes-Alty
Musical Director: Adam Dutch
Choreographer: Jackie Morris

I travelled to see Southport Spotlights production of “The Wedding Singer” not knowing what to expect as I have not seen the film or the show before. So what can I say about this show except that we had an evening of superb high energy entertainment with outstanding singing and acting, wonderful characterisations as well as great dynamic choreography, along with lots of laugh out loud comedy.

“The Wedding Singer” premiered on Broadway in 2006 and has music composed by Matthew Sklar, with lyrics written by Chad Beguelin, taken from a book by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. It is based on the 1998 film of the same name staring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore and the show was nominated for the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Set in 1985, a time of big hair, shoulder pads and Glam Rock, the story revolves around Robbie Hart who lives with his Grandma Rosie in Ridgefield, New Jersey,and who along with his bandmates Sammy and George, play and provided entertainment for weddings. He is the life of the party until his own fiancée Linda leaves him at the altar sending a note claiming that she wants to be the wife of a rock star and not the wife of a wedding singer. Robbie is devastated and his sadness makes every wedding he plays at a disaster as he sings about depression, suicide and betrayal. He meets Julia and her cousin Holly, who are waitresses, Julia becomes a close friend, but she is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, Glen Guglia, who has very worrying business and personal ethics, for example seeing other women while he is engaged to Julia. She asks Robbie to help with her wedding plans and also be her Wedding Singer. However what Robbie doesn't realise, is that he is actually falling in love with Julia.Will Robbie finally realise what Julia means to him and will he tell her how he feels and will he be singing at his own wedding to Julia.

The talented production team of Director Stephen Hughes -Alty, Musical Director Adam Dutch and Choreographer Jackie Morris were able to guide all the cast expertly enabling them to produce great performances which resulted in a wonderful very entertaining show. Chris Rimmer gave a strong outstanding performance, owning the stage in the central role of Robbie Hart and Natasha Proffitt had a lovely voice and was just right in the role of waitress Julia Sullivan.The talented John Delahunty was suitably sleazy and spot on as Julia’s fiancée Glen Guglia and Lauren King produced a very enjoyable strong comedic character as Julia’s cousin Holly. Other brilliant comedic performances came from Robbie’s band mates Sammy- Dom Tolley and Boy George look alike George- Rob MacGregor, then there was excellent Grandma Rosie- Nicky Williams and Lauren Millar was Robbie’s ex fiancée Linda with Karen Parkinson as Julie’s mother Angie. All the cast had very good comic timing and stayed in character all through the performance, they complemented each other really well and there were no weak links, also American New Jersey accents were just right and maintained throughout the show.

There were a number of wonderful comedic unnamed cameo roles in this production who should be congratulated on their performances as they were very important in the success of this show. The chorus worked hard with lots of energy producing some lovely characters of their own singing very well and performing the dynamic energetic choreography expertly. This show is heavy on musical numbers and the eleven piece orchestra played expertly and supported the cast very well at just the right level. Costumes were just right for the era and were bright and colourful bringing authenticity to the show. There was one minimalistic set and props were used to change scenes which worked nicely, there was excellent sound, lighting and very smooth transitions between scenes which helped keep the pace of the show just right, well done to all backstage workers.

A massive congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this outstanding production to the stage, the cast certainly deserved their standing ovation from the audience at the end of the show on the night we attended, we had a lovely evening thank you so much for inviting us.