The Wedding Singer

This was an excellent production from start to finish.The ensemble singing and dancing was truly excellent and general stage awareness was very high.  There must have been a lot of running around backstage as sometimes it appeared a player exited then they appeared on an upper balcony moments later.  Not one person stood out for the wrong reason, energy was high throughout as was the discipline needed to be part of such a successful production.  Everyone involved in moving props did so really well, never interrupting the flow of the show even with the large props such as beds, cake etc.  With multiple costume changes cues were always executed on time.   It was great that many of the ensemble had a smaller role to inhabit as well and I would like to congratulate all of you.  I can’t single out individual performances but for me the company excelled in “Casualty of Love” (Zombies), The Bar mitzva scene, “Saturday night in the City”,  “All about the Green” (Suits) and a shout out to the boys in “Single”.  I also loved all the proposals in the restaurant – good comic timing from everyone. The director clearly had a really strong idea of how this show would work which was essential with such a large cast.  She brought a really dynamic and vibrant feel to this production which played at a really fast pace using the space to move the cast around seamlessly and effortlessly.   I liked the way that the cast were angled towards the different banks of the tiered seating which allowed space for everyone to be seen and to shine.  The multi-level scaffold set  allowed multiple entrances and playing areas which was essential for a relatively small playing area in this modern theatre.  Lots of thought had gone into the set allowing for a small screen to playout a time reverse film which set the scene for the 80’s era.  Small banners set as needed on the middle tier ensured scenes could be played out without disrupting the floor area but were enough for the audience to know they were in a different place.  The upper level was reserved for the musicians.  Any show offers up challenges and opportunities, no performing space is the same, and the director devised some very creative solutions such as how to get Robbie in the dumpster and the entrance of Linda in the cake – certainly that was surprising as well as funny. Best wishes for your future shows.

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