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‘The Wedding Singer’ @ the Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THEATER REVIEW. Grade: C
“The Wedding Singer” is an extended ’80s riff — mullet hairdos and leather pants, Boy George and Madonna, Ronald and Nancy.
As the Broadway non-hit at the Fox Theatre rocks on, we see that some of these cultural totems have become indispensible while others have been rendered obsolete. A few years from now, the frothy musical based on the Adam Sandler film vehicle is likely to taste as fresh and relevant as one of the bad ideas it so gleefully parodies. Remember New Coke?“The Wedding Singer,” which failed to earn a single 2006 Tony Award, is a Jersey-style celebration of bad taste in fashion— and love.
Robbie Hart (Merritt David Janes) lives in his grandmother’s basement with his Cure posters — eeking out a kind of living singing at weddings, anniversaries and bar mitzvahs. Julia Sullivan (Erin Elizabeth Coors) is the sweet, pretty banquet server who catches his eye. The problem is that both are engaged to the wrong person.
“The Wedding Singer” spends its every breath trying to bring the two together, and it takes forever. But if the couple’s various amorous diversions often make their romance nearly grind to a halt, the show is blessed by a few good performances and a 24-member ensemble that disco-dances the brains out of original choreographer Rob Ashford’s relentless steps.
Janes and Coors are perfect in this ode to the time-honored mantra of being yourself. Success and money be damned.
But after the warm and fuzzies subside, the performances that stick in the mind are those of John Jacob Lee as Robbie’s bandmate George, Penny Larsen as his grandmother, Rose, and Andrea Andert as his vampy first love, Linda, who breaks his heart when she sings: “I realized you cramped my style as I crimped my hair.” (Lyrics, incidentally, are by Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar, book by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy.)
Lee brings a lot of high-strung energy and screams to a part that was plainly modeled on Boy George. “George’s Prayer” is partly sung in Yiddish and ends with a bow worthy of Joan Crawford. As a cute little grandma with an adventurous past, Larsen is a hoot, while Andert exults in being a very nasty girl.
As excessive as the decade it parodies, “The Wedding Singer” is as saccharin and sentimental as wedding cake. Tastes good. Probably won’t hurt you. Gone in a minute.
Comments
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By nmonroe
October 17, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Wendell, I have no idea what you would consider good, bad, or excellent, but you’re way off base on this show.
I was there last night and it was wonderful. The cast was spirited and talented, the story was logical, and there were several very funny moments. In all, it was highly enjoyable.
Did the story line drag a bit? You bet, but so does Hamlet. The best show I’ve ever seen? Not close.
But it doesn’t have to be.
For a Tuesday night in Atlanta, it was simply great entertainment. Both I and the audience had a great deal of fun, and what’s more important about a play than that?
By Lance
October 17, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
I have to admit that I saw the Broadway version of this show last year and loved it. But I am a musical theatre geek, and I appreciate the energy of a live show, not matter how bad the critics tell us to stay away.
The show is light and funny. The audience seemed to enjoy it as well, and I think the general public will too.
By Bill
October 18, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
I’ve read various comments about the show week in and week out, and it seems that everyone loves it except for the critics. Can’t figure it out. I’ll check it out for myself in Louisville.
Bill
By Jennifer
October 19, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this
Yeah…we saw this last night and left at intermission. It reminded me more of a high school musical.
By Disappointed in ATL
October 20, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
I agree. Saw this and decided to move on out at intermission. I am all about adaptations, but the music did not mirror the movie. I was hoping for more, maybe because I expected it to be more on the lines of Moulin Rouge.
By Danny
October 20, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
I’m so glad you could decipher the lyrics cause we were on the 4th row center and my entire row could not understand a word they were singing. This has happened in the past at THE FOX but its been awhile. I even told the soundboard guy who alot of times picks up the mikes from the speakers in the mez overhang and doesn’t not hear what the 1st 20 rows here. We went Tues..my friend went Thurs and she said the same thing without being prompted.
People say they hear more clearly in the back and that’s why..such a shame.I even told the soundguy after the show and he said it’s an aweful venue to try to mix. Maybe we should all get those hard of hearing mikes? :) Or ven better lets move to the Cobb Centre which is built for a broadway show experience!
By Neal
October 21, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
Saw the show on Sunday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The music was lively, the acting good and the audience seemed to really enjoy it. The Wedding Singer is a “feel good” play along the lines of “Mama Mia.” If you’re the technical type that likes to pick things apart, you might not like it but if you’re the type of theatre goer looking for a fun good time, you will definately have one at this show.