The Wedding Singer

Based on a film by Tim Herlihy, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, the show revolves around Robbie - the Wedding Singer in the title, his failed relationship with his fiancée and his romance with new love, Julia.

Principal cast comprised nine main and a large number of minor principals.  The Wedding Singer, Robbie Hart (Aaron Angeloni) performed with excellent comic timing and like all the main principals exhibited first class singing and acting throughout. Aaron’s performance was only matched, and at times exceeded, by an outstanding Julia, played here by Brogan Orkney. Her experience in a range of principal roles in musicals has clearly given her an excellent grounding to take on the role of Julia, a part whose stage-time is anything but minimal! Brogan’s stage presence, together with her singing and acting ability went a long way towards uplifting a show, whose book can best be described as a bit less than exciting. Robbie’s band mates Sammy (Grant Duffus) and George (Logan Booth) both gave very strong, comic, performances. Julia’s cousin and best friend Holly (Anne-Marie Millar) also finds herself up there with the best of the principals, thanks to her excellent vocal and acting talents. On an altogether more serious note, Julia’s Wall Street banker boyfriend Glen Guglia, was portrayed very well by Craig McKirgen, as the cheating boyfriend of Julia. Grandma Rosie (Claire Mackinlay) really let herself go towards the end of the show with both physical movement and vocal prowess in the duet with George “Move That Thang”.  Well done!

Congratulations, too, must go to the GAMA chorus who acted, sang and danced with enthusiasm throughout, thanks to excellent tuition from Director, Scott Melvin, Musical Director, Peter Robinson and Choreographer, Lorna Lewis.

Technically, sound was fine for most of the show and lighting accomplished what was needed, ie everyone was seen when they had to be.  Stage Management was handled well, considering the quantity of furniture that had to be removed and returned several times during the show.  It was felt that better use could have been made of the video wall given that it was the only means of locating a scene, in an otherwise quite bare stage.

Many thanks for inviting us along and we look forward to GAMA’s “Crazy For You” next September!

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