Arts Alliance of Pine Rivers Inc

The Wedding Singer

In 1998, handsome comedian Adam Sandler teamed with the delightful girl next door, Drew Barrymore to produce The Wedding Singer. This movie had teenagers from the 80’s all over the world agog with delight. In 2006 the stage version of the musical was first performed on Broadway.

Since that time, the musical has been a favourite for high schools and university revues. It does, however, come with some formidable challenges. With 30 or 40 scene changes and a huge cast of characters only a director as astute as Gordon Ball would take on such a challenge in a school hall and on a small stage. Ball is an expert at moving his cast around and utilizing their full potential. With a small backstage crew, he has his cast change scenes with lightning efficiency.

The set is simple but effective, utilising an upstage curtain and a side bookleaf flat and allowing us to use our imaginations he recreates the hectic pace of the 1980’s. This was a time when clothes, hairstyles and music went berserk. Then, as now, a wedding was the highlight of young people’s lives. There was a set pattern and part of that pattern was The Wedding Singer.

Our hero, Robbie, Luke Byars, is such a singer with delusions of becoming a rock star. He can control any wedding but his own and when he is left standing at the altar his life crumbles. He is saved from despair by the beautiful Julia, played delightfully by Erin Low whose wonderful voice is a standout amongst a talented cast. She helps him out of his despair (and out of a dumpster) by encouraging him to help plan her own wedding to the sleazy Gordon Gecko type Glen, played with salacious delight by Prima stalwart Tom Mullins.

This production could only succeed with a cast of high octane young performers and there are some wonderful performances indeed. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Belinda Turton who played Julia’s best friend, Holly and Chris Humphreys whose camp Boy George character was perfect. There are many other great performances in the show but too many to mention individually.

Throughout the many scene changes, there are an amazing number of brilliant costumes – a testament to the Wardrobe department of the company- . I heard one audience member comment at interval “Oh heavens, I really used to wear some of those outfits. I even had the leg warmers”.

 

Mention must also be made of the wonderful choreography which made full use of every spare inch of the small stage with the large cast. The 6 piece band under the direction of musical directors, Jacki Drinnen and Matt Pearson rounded off what was a delightful evening’s entertainment. I saw a dress rehearsal of this show and there were some sound problems but I am sure these will be rectified by opening night.

If watching beautiful girls and handsome young men in wildly delightful costumes dancing and singing up a treat is your bag, dress up in your 80’s gear and head along to the Holy Spirit Hall, Sparkes Road, Bray Park.

The show will open on Friday, 7th May at 8.00pm and will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8.00 p.m. till 22nd May with a matinee on Sunday, 16th May, at 2.30pm

Ticket prices are Adults $30.00, Concession $27.00.

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