Review: The Wedding Singer at Southward’s Theatre
Review by Penelope Haines
I attended the opening night of the Otaki Player’s production of The Wedding Singer tonight.
Based on the original 1998 movie of the same name, which starred Adam Sandler, the plot centres around the love life of a singer, so the conversion of the book by Tim Herlihy and Chad Beguelin into a musical must have seemed a logical development. Composer Matthew Sklar and Lyricist Chad Beguelin have tapped into a rich vein of nostalgia, drawing their inspiration from some of the more lolly-pop music of the 80s and 90s.
Set in 1985, Robbie Hart is a popular New Jersey wedding singer until his own fianceĢe dumps him at the altar. In the aftermath, Robbie, in his grief, wrecks every wedding he sings for until Julia, a waitress, pulls him out of his depression. She wins his affection, but Julia is about to marry a ruthless, amoral Wall Street financier. Will Robbie and Julia be able to overcome the barriers that stand between them and true love?
I confess the original Adam Sandler film had left me unimpressed. I was hard-put to recall it and would have described it at best as meh! Imagine my surprise when this musical adaptation lifts the work from mediocre to a vibrant, clever and funny production. With its infectious energy and exuberance, this show is a very different creature. Yes, the plot is a little ridiculous, the characters are shallow, and the music is not particularly original, but the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.
This is a show to have fun with, and the Otaki Player’s production doesn’t disappoint. Antoinette Younger, as director, has done a fine job with the material and brought out the best in her cast.
Ben Wakefield played the leading roles as Robbie Hart and Sarah Fa’avale as Julia Sullivan. These likeable actors were well-matched, bringing strong voices, charm and humour to the roles. There was a rich mine of material for them to draw from – brick-like mobile phones, mullets, CD players and the fashions of 40 years ago all added to the fun. Songs, movies and lyrics from the 80s were frequently referenced and used in dialogue, each drawing laughs of recognition from the audience.
One of the pleasures of this production was this was a “Company” show. Yes there were leads and individual performances, but the strength of the whole cast working together made this show such a success. The choreography and dancing were a real highlight of the show. Maddy Smith did a tremendous job as choreographer, using strong dancers for individual performances while bringing the whole cast together for ensemble pieces.
Every member of the supporting cast brought talent and charisma to the performance. Notable was Anthony Tautari as Sammy – not only as a convincing vocalist but as a polished dancer. Layton Miscall, as George, was the third member of the Wedding Singer trio – again, a strong singer with a powerful stage presence.
Grandma Rosie, played by Sue Wells, revelled in her role, as did Julia’s best friend Holly, played by Aysia Hampton. The sheer talent, humour and energy each brought to the production were remarkable, and the audience loved it.
Sitting in the auditorium, it was possible to feel the energy building amongst the audience in response to the humourous shenanigans on stage.
The stage set was simple – consisting mainly of furniture smoothly moved on and off stage by the cast as required.
For once, the orchestra – or band, in this case, didn’t have to be concealed. As part of the Wedding Singer’s band, they had a legitimate spot on stage. Graham Orchard and Andrea King, long-time staples of the Otaki Players musical crew, did a fine job on this production. Their singers were true, and the orchestral accompaniments were appropriate for the musical genre they served.
I imagine the costume department had fun with this production. The women’s fashion ranged from demure (Julia Sullivan) to downright raunchy (Linda and Holly). And the costumes for the dancers, particularly in the final number, were exquisite.
Outside, it was a winter’s evening. It was dismally cold and rainy, and the weather as gloomy as the daily news on TV. Even our Olympic successes can’t fully disperse the misery of failing share markets, rising prices and job losses. There’s a sense of disillusionment and people looking for relief. Could this production, for a few short hours, provide us with the escape we need?
I’m happy to say that the answer is a resounding YES.
The only disappointment I felt tonight was that the theatre was half empty. This is a production that deserves full houses. For an evening of fun, laughter and humour this show is hard to beat. As a bonus, on one of the production nights, any profits are being shared with the Otaki Health Camp Rotunda Restoration fundraising effort. This is a good, fun night out for the whole family. Come and enjoy it while you have the opportunity!