The Wedding Singer

1980s rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s most in-demand wedding singer. However, when his own wedding plans go down the pan and he is left standing at the altar, his heartbreak and grief suddenly make him the worst wedding singer you can find. He ruins every wedding he plays at until he connects with Julia, a pretty young waitress who dreams of her own perfect wedding. There’s just one problem, she’s already engaged.

Based on the film, which is enjoying its own ‘silver’ anniversary, this stage production transferred well under the direction of Melanie Brown. KODS were blessed with a leading man Josh Dibble who is an accomplished guitar player, which elevated his role of Robbie Hart, the most in demand wedding singer. Josh led from the front throughout with some strong acting and singing including the opening raucous number ‘It’s Your Wedding Day’, involving the whole company. His eventual bride Julia Sullivan was played by Emily Hamer with a bright and endearing disposition. Initially, Julia is engaged to be married to Glen Guglia played by Jake Jones, who lives up to his character of a rich shallow Wall Street broker very well, but actually does not treat Julia very well.

It all starts to go wrong for Robbie, when he is left at the alter by his own bride to be Linda, played by Claire Rutland with strength and a racy love of rock, particularly during ‘Let Me Come Home’ in Act 2, when making a last bid for Robbie. Throughout, Robbie is supported by his two closest friends, Sammy (Reece Jones) and George (Tom Paine) who give bags of support and maintain the action. Melanie Jones as Grandma Rosie stole a couple of scenes with the number ‘A Note From Grandma’ and particularly in Act 2 with ‘Move That Thang’ with George, both surprising us with some great rapping!

In Act 1, Robbie’s ‘Somebody Kill Me’ and his number with the company ‘Casualty of Love’ were strong and I liked Julie and Robbie’s touching number ‘Come Out Of The Dumpster’. ‘Pop’ was also a good number involving Holly (Joanna Tompkins), Angie (Lisa Derrington), Julia and Company. Holly was particularly strong in the up-tempo number ’Saturday Night In The City’ closing Act 1 and was very natural in her number with Sammy ‘Right In Front of Your Eyes’ in Act 2. I felt Act 2 moved up a gear with a catchy opening number ‘All About the Green’ and some nifty choreography by Hannah Kearns and all 11 men were great fun with ‘Single’. Robbie and Julia had two lovely duets in Act 2: ‘If I Told You’ and ‘Grow Old With You’.

The fixed set on two levels approached by stairs on either side worked well and accommodated a well-controlled band led by MD Chris Passey. The costumes provided a good flavour of the 80s and sound and lighting supported a production for which all involved should be congratulated.

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