The Wedding Singer

The Wedding Singer is the iconic Adam Sandler movie that is now a fast-paced musical.

Sharon and Tom stepped in to take on this challenging show and I believe that it is their first attempt at directing a musical. I want to say congratulations for being able to present a good musical. I truly hope they continue to direct both musicals and plays.

Mike Payne balanced the four-piece band well and created a super sound.

The choreography was ok; it was clear that some of the company were unsure of the steps and they were not always in time. It was clear that positioning has been thought about, but with so many people on stage at one time it was challenging to be able to see everyone.

Lewis Harrison-Barker (Robbie) and Zoe Nesteriuc (Julia) were a good leading pair. There were times I really believed their love for each other.  Zoe had a lovely voice, and she portrayed Julia as a soft character which contrasted with the other female lead Holly well. Lewis was outstanding, he is a fantastic leading man, and he shone in this production.

Glen was portrayed by Michael Miles. Micheal portrayed Glen in a very sleazy fashion and he got those characteristics across well. Michael obviously worked very hard on the songs, and he complimented Lewis well when harmonising.

Sammie and George were played by Joe Poppy and Stevie Musk. They were part of the band, but more than that they gave good comedy performances. I particularly like Stevie’s Boy George characterisation, it was very funny and brave.

Heather Lawther played Holly, she had a great voice and presence on stage. She stood out during “Saturday Night in the City” for the right reasons, she had a superb voice and exactly the right attitude for the character and song.

Linda’s two rock numbers were performed with energy by Alice Moutrey, both were vocally powerful.  Justine Mileusnic played Grandma Rosie; she had good comic timing and she was also a very good rapper!

I always feel that multiple blackouts can impact the pace of the show, unfortunately this was the case here, however I do really understand why they were used. The Lytton Theatre is a beautiful space, but there is also limited space. This means scene changes can be a challenge, especially when a bed needs to be brought on multiple times.

Costumes were great and were right for all characters.

Overall, it was a good show. Can I also thank the society; I always feel welcome and really enjoy visiting such a friendly society.

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