BroadwayWorld Presents: 'The Wedding Singer' First Look Video!

[Craig]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 9:43am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=7615

Updated On: 2/17/06 at 09:43 AM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 10:57am

VERY excited!

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:05am

Hmmm. I don't know what to think... looks interesting, at the very least.

The bathroom scene looked pretty reminiscent of "The Full Monty" set... not a criticism... just an observation.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:53am

well, looks like it will be the second best musical of this season..



though i haven't seen anything from drowsy yet, so maybe third.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:56am

That video makes the show look better than it is. What you don't see is one of the worst books in recent memory, along with some of the show's biggest clunker songs.

[codyjo88]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:00pm

I don't get it, this show looks horrible and sounds so predictable.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:01pm

... ... I kind of thought it looked incredible.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:03pm

I think it looks and sounds awesome. The orchestrations sound very authentic of the '80s genre. I hear all the DX-7 synths and guitars, just like I remember. I listen to a lot of music, including pop, and I know I'm going to like this.

My mom didn't like the movie originally, so I hope this makes her like it now.

And THANK GOD this show has the songs "Somebody Kill Me" and "Grow Old With You". I like the way Stephen Lynch sings them.

BTW, who's that singing Julia's part on the demos on the website? Doesn't sound like Laura Benanti.

[Musical Director]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:03pm

I think it looks pretty schlocky, myself. Lots of talented people involved, too. Matthew Sklar and Rob Ashford are colleagues of mine, and I love them and their talent, but this looks like a mess. I have to admit that I was not a big fan of the film, though. Matthew Sklar is immensely talented and I would love to see him get to do something completely original. From what I saw it does not make me want to see it.

[jdixon69]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:16pm

So is it really that bad, Bobby? A friend of mine (not a big theater person) saw it and liked it, but couldn't be more specific beyond "it was awesome". Did you see it early on, or after it opened? How's Laura B? Is it fixable?

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 2:32pm

Did you see it Bobby? I dunno, I think it looks cute.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 2:40pm

Well. The music sucks.

But seeing Amy Spanger dump the water on herself...

Yeah, I'll see it!

[timote316]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 2:40pm

I think the correct word here is interesting. I can't decide if that looked awful or really good. Strange.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 2:41pm

i think it looks like "hey this looks like something a lot of people know lets put it on stage". This is commercialism against Art....

I think it loks tacky and terrible. But that is just my opinion

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 2:51pm

I don't know, it looks fun. Not fantastic, or mind blowing. But fun. I'm actually looking forward to seeing it.

[kyguy78]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:02pm

To me, it looks very eighties and I think that's the whole point. It worked for the movie and it will probably work, initially, on Broadway. I think the show is playing up the cheesy factor and that's evident in everything from the costumes to the music. Plus, Stephen Lynch seems to have a very good prescence without turning the role into a carbon copy of Adam Sandler.

Plus, Amy Spanger and Felicia Finley both look great in their 80's attire!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:07pm

Yes, I saw it roninjoey. Truly awful. Again, that video doesn't show any of the book, which is horrible.

[andyf]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:10pm

Yeaaaaaaah...she's got to go.



On the upside, I forgot how much I love Felicia Finley and Amy Spanger...spectacular.

Updated On: 2/17/06 at 03:10 PM

[MrBundles]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:11pm

Just saw it on Wednesday. I loved it. So much better than I expected.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:14pm

Felicia and Amy are the stars of the show.

[jdixon69]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:17pm

BobbyB, did you see it early in previews or more recently? Apparently, they've made changes.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:21pm

I like Laura Benanti, but although she looks the part, her voice necessarily doesn't have all the "belty" pop elements, so I believe the role of Julia should have gone to Kerry Butler. That's who they originally had for the readings. They should just make up their minds.

Besides I listen to the version of Sandler and Herlihy's "Grow Old With You" on the website, and I think it SOUNDS like Kerry playing Julia. She sings the higher part. Is it? Can you conclude this for me?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:26pm

That looks horrible.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:29pm

Maybe her character isn't meant to have that belty pop quality sound that Felicia Finley and Amy Spanger have for, you know, contrast and highlight.

Although I do think she has an effective "pop" sound, she's just not playing it up like the other characters get to.

I was just curious BB, I thought you lived in NY for some reason (although it doesn't mean you wouldn't have been in Seattle).

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 3:30pm

I don't think we are far enough away from the eighties to laugh at it. Hairspray and Grease work because we can look back nostalgically and laugh. But this show kind of makes me cringe in the "what were we thinking" kind of embarrassed way. Too soon!