Okay, I know what you're thinking: The Wedding Singer, that old Adam Sandler movie as a musical? Without Adam Sandler? Without Drew Barrymore? Without the rocking 80's soundtrack? The 1998 film, The Wedding Singer was such a big hit for a few reasons. First off, it was one of the first movies to start looking back and spoofing the 80's. Its soundtrack was so popular it went multi-platinum and they even released a second soundtrack featuring more songs from the movie. Finally, it was very much defined by its two charismatic and adorable stars, who both had bankable box office pasts. So what happens to the story of the wedding singer when you take away its stars and its soundtrack, and add a hefty ticket price? I was about to find out.

As the bright lights came up and the huge opening number/exposition, 'It's your Wedding Day' began, I feared for the worst. The high energy number introduces us to Steven Lynch as Robby Hart, Laura Benati as Julia and Amy Spanger as Holly, among others. Everything is there, the mullets, the running man, the puffy sleeves, even the funny band member who looks like Boy George (and is named George). While 'It's your Wedding Day' and the next few numbers are great, the show doesn't really start for me until Robby gets dumped at the Altar and Linda (played by Felicia Finley) sings her breakup letter in pure Metal Band/White Snake video fashion. So without the catchy soundtrack and A-List actors, the kitsch of the 80's becomes the star. The colorful generation lends itself perfectly to the entertaining original songs with hysterical and intricate choreography. They also stuff every scene with so many cultural references that it could be VH1's 'I Love the 80's- The Musical.'

Now, as for the stars' With huge shoes to fill, Steven Lynch, a young comedian makes his broadway debut as Robby Hart, The Wedding Singer. While the obvious trap is to do a bad Adam Sandler imitation for two and a half hours, Lynch successfully sidesteps disaster by being hilarious and charming in his own right. Laura Benati, a broadway veteran (Nine, Into the Woods, Swing) falls flat as Julia Sullivan. She lacks the undeniable liability factor that Drew Barrymore is known for. Her attempt at the giggly and goofy nature that Barrymore excels in comes off as annoying and the audience spends a bit too much time wondering why Robbie has fallen in love with her. She is easily overshadowed by the talented Amy Spanger playing the best friend/easy waitress, Holly. Other standouts include Richard H. Blake as Glen Gulia, Julia's banker boyfriend, whose character is expanded from the movie and really shines in the 80's greed number, 'Dollars.'

The show stays interesting and fresh by playing up to its strengths, the 80's and the talented cast. Besides being one of the funniest musicals I have seen in a long time, it is also family appropriate. And if you are thinking about having a family of your own it might be the right place to start, in the first week of opening two audience members got engaged onstage!

Copyright © 2003 - 2008 Splash Magazines Worldwide. All rights reserved.

Top of Page