Star-studded night at THE WEDDING SINGER! 4.1.06- Page 4

[Yeah, um, no.]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 8:28pm

Wow. So much animosity for a show that's still in previews. Maybe it's a crowd pleaser and a piece of poop at the same time?!? That's what I think of the movie Pretty Woman. I thought it was a predicable, sexist, mass produced piece of crap. Yet I've heard a lot of peole say it's one of their favorite movies. And it MADE Julia Roberts career. And a lot of money. So go figure.

Maybe TWS sucks artistically but is loved by the great ticket-buying unwashed? Isn't that how Wicked unfolded?
Updated On: 4/2/06 at 08:28 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 8:30pm

Um, I saw the show in Seattle and am seeing it in NYC in a few weeks. It's not so difficult, Vinnie.

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 8:42pm

Miguel, you clearly say you're seeing it in a few weeks. If you had seen it already you would have said so. Nice try, but no cigar for you.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 8:42pm

Okay Vinnie, whatever you say. And Mary Poppins still isn't going to win the Tony.

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 9:06pm

What is going to beat it? Billy E. at the Imperial?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 9:10pm

"KISS MY ASS" the Whitney Houston Musical.

:)

[thesparklingdiamond]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 9:12pm

as far as the cast recording at the seattle run the people running the souvenir booth had a sign up sheet for info on when the CR would be released they said that it was planned for April.

[alli2]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 9:14pm

In my own defense, the subject of my original post didn't say "WEDDING SINGER REVIEW," it stated what the posts subject was the "stars" that were there. I'm not an AI fan, or a huge fan of any of the people who were there. I just thought there were people on here who would be interested.

I never claimed to be well-versed in my review writing because I'm definitely not, and I think I'm horrible at it, so please don't be acusing me like I said I was a self-proclaimed journalist when I didn't.

I'm sorry if people didn't like my original post.
Updated On: 4/2/06 at 09:14 PM

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 9:38pm

As I suspected...another statement you can't back up. Sorry Miguel, your comments once again are worthless.

[dotvmike]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:03pm

How full are these previews of The Wedding Singer because I would love to go and see it but would rather just get rush tickets? Are rush tickets even available while a show is in previews? Thanks!

[LorelaiGilmore]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:06pm

Oh, I forgot about rush! Now if only I could find a free weekend. Wow, I hate being busy!

[elvenprincess971]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:11pm

I saw The Wedding Singer in its out of town run and I loved it way more than i thought i was going to also. Kevin was fantastic, though underused I felt. I began looking forward to his next songs more than anything.

I can't wait for a soundtrack!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:11pm

I don't know how full it was - my tickets were for row T in the orchestra that I ordered a few weeks ago. When I picked them up at the box office, he changed out seats to row E, and there were two empty seats next to me. Don't know if that's an indictation of anything - it's too early to tell.

I don't think this show will have a problem pulling people in - atleast in the beginning. When the reviews come out and they're all horrible, that's when you might start seeing an effect.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:36pm

The first preview was sold-out. But it sounded like a lot of people got their tickets on TDF that day, as did I.

I didn't feel Kevin was underused. Actually he, and the other "band member" had bigger parts then I expected. I didn't expect the sub-plot of Amy and her exboyfriend.

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 12:34am

A friend and I saw THE WEDDING SINGER last night courtesy of tix purchased via TDF. Front orchestra seats enabled a great view; unfortunately, the production didn't deliver.

Let me preface this by saying that I went in not expecting much, but anxious to see Kevin Cahoon return to Broadway.

Kevin delivers...so does most of the rest of the cast, especially Stephen Lynch, but the production as a whole is missing something.

The first thing I did notice was the unusually huge, excited response the audience had to the first number which was in the first few minutes of the show. Unless this show was filled with cast family members, neither one of us could think of another show (other than Hairspray, which I would rather not discuss)that received such a response so early in previews. The crowd didn't even look like most crowds I have seen in the theatre (and I've seen quite a few). There was such an audible and thrilled response to the first number that it seemed as though the audience was aware of something we weren't...or maybe they were "plants" so that the rest of us would feel the excitement and respond the same way. I'm not sure, but something wasn't right about the response.

Purely my opinion: although the many sets were decent, the costumes, especially the female costumes were reminiscent of a high school production...not the style, the quality. The show went for every 80s cliche...a bit overdone, as was the Vegas bit about fake Tina, fake Cyndy, etc. After the initial joke it was just beaten to death and smacked of talking down to the audience. Although the lead isn't supposed to be a great songwriter, after awhile the rhyming lyrics got on my nerves. The production was funny in parts, but missed most of the charm of the movie. Personally, I thought that the premise of the movie being made as a Broadway production was lame in the first place, but as I said earlier, I hoped for the best.

Is the show awful, no; but I can't help think of ALL SHOOK UP which was superior in every way but tossed out of The Palace prematurely. Can this show be salvaged, maybe; but I can't help thinking that right now, it is overflowing with too much of the wrong things, and definitely missing some of the right things.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:16am

Maybe the 80s joke didn't work for you, but I think the audience loved it. They laughed all the way through the Las Vegas bit. It even stopped the show in the first preview and laura and robert were just cracking up. it was great. if you didnt like hairspray,then you probably won't like this either. its a very light, fluff type show. It ain't Piazza. And, Stephen Lynch, in case ya didn't know, is a really big star in the comedy world. And he's very big with colleges and high school kids. When I went, the whole row behind me was like some stephen lynch fan club, cause stephen knew who they were when he came out of the stage door. I think a lot of ppl who dont normally go to the theater will go cause of him.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:00am

I laughed at the Las Vegas bit - but not laughing because it was funny. I was laughing because I couldn't believe how unnecessary, messy, and campy it was. I was laughing AT them.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:21am

Why such vitriol? It's just a musical, for god's sake.

If the show is a hit, it employs a lot of people in the theatre community, which is a good thing.

If it brings people out of their houses and into the theatre, then that, too, is a good thing.

"Listen to the critics"? We're all critics. Even those paid to review theatre disagree with each other, so I say, "Decide for yourself."

I've been seeing Broadway shows for over FORTY (That's "4-0," as Margo Channing says in All About Eve) years. I'm not going to get into any other "credentials" than that.

I enjoyed this show. You don't have to. There are plenty of shows on Broadway that are extremely popular that I don't care for, but I still root for them. Every time a show closes, Broadway loses something.

Let me just pose a few questions:

Is there such a thing as a "perfect" show?
Who decides that it's "perfect"?
Isn't everything "flawed" in some way?
Aren't previews a time to work out kinks?
Is it really so bad to like something that's "mindless," "trashy," or "popular"?

(BTW, I think it's wonderful that Andy Karl came to see David Josefsberg and Kevin Kern on Saturday night...people in theatre showing SUPPORT for one another. That's what "community" is supposed to be about.)

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:39am

Amen Miss Pennywise.

I've seen Wedding Singer a couple times now, both times technically in rehearsal, but I must say it's an enjoyable time in the theatre.

Sure there are some problems, that's why they have 4 weeks of previews to work things out.

Bottom line, as Miss Pennywise says-"It's just a musical, for god's sake."

I hope they do well. I hope any musical does well...more employment for more theatre artists.

I'm completely biased, as I have friends in the cast, but I will say that I personally enjoyed the show a lot. There are some great performances from everyone involved. Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one and most of them stink. You've heard it before and it's never been more true.

With a brand like "Wedding Singer," I think and hope the show does very well. The writers have been through the mill over the years and deserve to have some great success, as they are very talented guys. The cast is quite clearly working their butts off. Some of the material isn't working quite yet, but again, they have time to fix things.

I think the show has some fantastic potential, just judging from the changes I've been told have happened between Seattle and here, I'm excited to see the show once it's frozen.

Give it some time before making your final judgements on it. I agree with Miss Pennywise-"Everytime a show closes, Broadway loses something." Don't root for something to close because you don't like it. Keeping people working is a great gift. And keeping people coming into the theatre for an enjoyable evening is an even greater gift.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:43am

Every time a show closes, Broadway looses something?

So shows should run forever, and if new shows want to open, they just can't, because, well, the others were there first?

I can think of a handfull of musicals that, after closing, Broadway was a better place.

You're right - it's just a musical. Take some of your own advice.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:25am

No, it doesn't loose something. It loses something.

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 4:07am

**REPOST**

What did they have for merchandise at the show. Did they Have posters for the show Yet.

[zzannahk]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:53am

according to Sony www.sonybmgmasterworks.com

Bluejay 82876-81804-2-6 SK TBD 06/06/06 Sony Classical
Original Broadway Cast Recording The Wedding Singer 82876-82095-2 SK $18.98 06/06/06 Sony Classical

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:30am

Ok, I'm coming in to throw in MY two cents, and I hope you people know I'm not a shill but whatever.

I wanted to hate this show. I like the movie alright, but I thought turning this movie into a musical was a piss poor idea. I went this weekend because I had friends in town who really wanted to see it. I pacified myself thinking about Amy Spanger, who I was admittedly eager to see.

I had a REALLY good time. Maybe I'm in the minority camp, but I laughed until I thought I was going to be ill for a large portion of the night...as did the people around me. Especially during Felicia Finley's two numbers - I don't think I've ever been that.... surprised... ever.

The book has some flaws - that CAN be fixed - namely the fact that Amy Spanger's character is more interesting than Laura Benanti's - and I don't think that was Laura's fault, because every time she was given a moment to do something she was adorable and quirky.

They need to trim the scene with the FAKE "fill in the blank here" (you can have them onstage without TALKING to EVERY ONE OF THEM) and ALSO block Laura so she's facing full front during that scene... she's got a great reaction to Robbie and I'd say that 50 percent of the audience is MISSING IT. The ENTIRE song "Single" could be cut or trimmed, it's a cute premise but it drags a bit.

Highlights for me were the (don't kill me) "It's Your Wedding Day" dance number (which most of the audience was SINGING on the way out) - and I don't have my playbill right now but I think the song Laura and Steven sing... "If I Told You" - that was VERY nice. I like Laura's voice and it's nice to have ONE female in a musical these days who is allowed to just be a soprano and not to belt her guts out. (Note: I didn't mind Amy and Felicia belting their guts out, it's just a nice contrast)

I think a lot of what made the show so fun to watch was what I perceived to be the MOST COMMITTED ensemble I've EVER SEEN.

And if anybody involved in the show reads this - get Laura out of that hideous blonde wig - the pictures of her in the brown wig outside the theater are cute. Her wig is hideous and it makes her look distractingly UNCUTE and she's an adorable girl.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:41am

As an aside, I think they should not use a wig at all for Laura. Her real hair is gorgeous and it suits her. She just looked silly in that wig. I mean, the role doesn't call for having straight, fake looking hair. I actually think Laura's real hair would give the character some much need pizzaz.

Updated On: 4/3/06 at 08:41 AM