The Wedding Singer

If you're a fan of all things 80's, if you feel the need, the need for speed, then dig out your shoulder pads, parachute pants and boogie on down to Stone and see the Revellers latest production of The Wedding Singer. Based on the film of the same title by Tim Herlihy, with music by Matthew Sklar and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin.

Director Rob Stanway and his production team certainly pulled out all of the stops with this 1980's spectacular. Straight from the get go, the atmosphere they created with the cast was buzzing.

Alec Voss as Robbie 'The Wedding Singer', together with his band, Simply Wed has built a great reputation, he brings joy to countless couples on their big day. A true romantic in a money obsessed world takes us on an emotional roller coaster that is his delicate love life.

The love of his life Linda, Sam Green, does not treat the tune-smith well, which leads to him falling into a deep depression with hilarious results, particularly at the next wedding he and the band play.

After crashing out of the wedding he talks to and finds himself falling for the sweet waitress about town Julia, played with a beautiful innocence by Beatrice Goodwin, she in turn is waiting for her successful rich yuppy boyfriend, the super-slick Glen, Matt Dewey to propose to her.

Robbie's band mates Sammy and George, James Duckworth and James Norman respectively, back Robbie in his ups and downs to great effect.

Sammy to is looking for love, desperate to win back former girlfriend fellow waitress and Julia's cousin Holly, played with real sass by Kath Walton, he continually misses the mark with his comical backhanded compliments.

The whole cast had lots of roles to play, which they all carried off with ease. I must mention the totally with it, rapping geriatric Grandma, played with superb timing by Charl Andrews, she had some great one liners and brilliant moves.

Fantastic costumes shown off with some well choreographed dance moves from choreographer Angela Whitney.

The songs in the show were Simply The Best, lyrically laugh out loud hilarious at times, with some beautiful duets, the cast do real justice to them, some lovely harmonies, great light and shade throughout the show, well rehearsed and woven under the Musical Directorship of Carl Gratty, who gathered together a fantastic band, the musicianship was superlative, fantastic authentic 80's tones and feel, well done to one and all, just great to hear.

The final scenes in Las Vegas are really funny, Robbie is aided and abetted by a whole host of 80's celebrities to try to win the heart of his true love Julia and stop her from marrying her greedy unfaithful fiance Glen. Will they succeed?

The Wedding Singer is great fun, a wonderfully retro, feel good show. Loved it.

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