Star-studded night at THE WEDDING SINGER! 4.1.06- Page 5

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:58am

I agree completely - we saw her on the street afterwards and the people I was with couldn't beleive how cute she was. That wig is plain hideous, and the OTHER two girls are blonde (in real life too), I don't get why her character couldn't have brown hair, the blonde washes her out apart from it plain being an ugly wig.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:15am

My name in lights- I saw the Sat. evening performance and the exact same enthusiastic response took place for the opening number. Include me as one of the respondants-hmmm, am I related to the Aracas and didn't know it? I guess they're inviting hundreds of plants for each show.

No, the response is because this show opens with a BANG-the right way to start a show. Enjoy it, people!

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:22am

I too witnessed that response - and I admit, I'm not a screamer but when the curtain comes up, the music is blasting and that ENTIRE ensemble is dancing their BUTTS OFF IMMEDIATELY, it's sort of exciting!

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:58am

I agree...the show starts off with a bang with the only really memorable song. I thought to myself..."this is going to be fun". I laughed for a while and then it just started to go downhill and plummetted into a sloppy mess by the end of the show.

For the person who said, if you don't like "Hairspray" you won't like this...I for one really liked "Hairspray" and "All Shook Up"...this show is not nearly in the same league. It needs some SERIOUS help.

[Starburst]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:27am

Oh. Man.

Gaah, why did I have to miss this when it was in Seattle and I could've gotten tickets for $20? *laments!*

It sounds pretty fab. I'm excited to hear all the reviews.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:47am

I was actually relieved that they'd put Laura in the blondish wig. As someone who LOVES the movie, it was something familiar in a very unfamiliar characterization.

And yes, the opening of the show is INCREDIBLE.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 12:20pm

Well, I woudln't call it incredible by any means. They're just lucky that they start off with a really catchy song that's a lot of fun.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 12:21pm

Maybe engaging is the better word.

[sciguy]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:44pm

After reading this thread here is what I have learned about myself:

#1- I'm a shill
#2- I was planted in the audience by a still unknown entity so i could cheer on the opening number
#3- I was forced by cattle prod to give the show a SO.
#4- I'm a loser because I love references to the 80's.

Why are people so brutal when we like a show that is just plain FUN!!

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:47pm

they had laura in a dark curly wig for seattle (the one she has on in all the pictures outside the theatre)... but that and the high, high stilettos just made her look cold, and unaccesible... so they loosened it up a bit and changed both the shoes and the wig.

I think this wig now is better than te seattle wig... but maybe her real hair would work well as well. I'm just glad they put her in sneakers! its the little things that help

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:00pm

"they're just lucky that they start off with a really catchy song that's a lot of fun."

Lucky? what the heck are you talking about? There's no luck involved. The song was written and performed that way on purpose. Totally under "their" control. Not lucky--smart and talented.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:19pm

Oh em gee, I totally agree. When Laura came on stage I hardly recognized her! Ditch the wig, I like her sultry!

And most of all, ditch the hairband.

[alli2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:28pm

CD to be released on June 6th, they will start taking pre-orders at the theatre soon.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:23pm

thanks for the info, Alli2!

[Rypm25]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 7:36pm

I saw the show on Friday evening and found it to be cute, but very lacking. (Possible Spoilers Ahead)My friends and I were very shocked to hear the audience reaction once the show began. They were going nuts and we looked at eachother like..."are we missing something? It's just begun!"....

I enjoyed the opening number very much! It was catchy and a nice opening number...unfortunately, the score didn't keep up with the opening number. I liked Felicia Finley in her role, but she is quite wasted in this show! Amy Spanger was great in the show too, and she was given quite a bit to do, right down to closing the first act with a nod to Flashdance. She had a second act song, which she sang well, but teetered ever so close to becoming a re-enactment of "cool rider" from grease 2. Stephen Lynch was fine as Robbie. Laura Benanti is a problem here, in my opinion. I saw her in into the woods, and thought she did a beautiful job. The role here in the wedding singer doesnt quite fit her. She just doesn't click with the humor...she should be adorable and cute and you should be rooting for her...and i found myself not caring for her, and rooting for holly and sammy instead. The blond wig and sneakers seem like an attempt to get as close to drew barrymore as possible, and laura benanti just isnt drew barrymore in that cute, bubbly way that makes you root for her. I, for one, am very interested in hearing how the show goes on a night when laura benanti is out, and Tina Maddigan goes on...from seeing her in Mamma Mia, she seems much better suited for the role than Ms. Benanti.
I do want to say that the dancers in this show work there behinds off! They earned their paycheck the night that night, thats for damn sure! There is a lot of dancing in this show, much more than i expected...it was quite nice to see. Ultimately, however, the shows biggest problem it seems is the score. The songs are just not that great or memorable, with a few exceptions. I liked the opening very much, It's your wedding day. I also liked "Right in front of your eyes" in the second act, but that may have been more because of amy spanger's performance than the actual song..And i liked, very much the ballad between robbie and julia in the second act "If I told you"...and the reprise of that ballad which showed Julia singing through the plane window as she flew to vegas while robbie was on the ground. However, the ending kind of falls apart with fake Billy Idol, fake tina turner, fake cyndi lauper, fake imelda marcos, etc...coming to the rescue. The 80's joke do wear out, and by the time they get to the "where's the beef" joke in the second act, i personally was done hearing them.
So, I thought the show was cute, the score needs a lot of work, and probably won't get the help it needs. However, I will say this..the audience I was with on friday night absolutely ATE-IT-UP! They seemed to love it...and want more.

[pennylane2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 7:59pm

i just want to say that the score is my favorite part, so to each his own.. I LOVE every song, i think the whole show was FLAWLESS, perfect EXCEPT

the only thing i dont like, and its not really a spoiler sorry if it is, is that she sings the end of GROW OLD WITH YOU, jUST LET HIM SING IT AHH!.. oh well, other than that, one fo my favorite shows.

[rah]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:20pm

"I, for one, am very interested in hearing how the show goes on a night when ... Tina Maddigan goes on ... from seeing her in "Mamma Mia" she seems much better suited to the role. "

Rypm25

Make that TWO votes for Tina ! She is the perfect tonic for those Wedding Singer blues. Throughout I could imagine her ON stage. Might be time for "Standby to the rescue."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 11:54am

This topic needs it's own thread but I am so glad that somone finally had the guts to say what I have been thinking all along about this show. A great night out at the theatre.Funny as all hell.Needs a few cuts and a few changes,the biggest change...Laura Benanti. I am a big fan of her past work and we all know that she should have a TOny on her shelf but someone needs to pull her from this Julia role.Warm and funny is just not in her bag of tricks...and it made me discouraged to see her squirm to be a Drew..yet the wig,sneakers and ugly sweaters are a nice try I'm not buying it.If anyone got to see Tina Maddigan in Mama Mia they would know that she is our Broadway Barrymore!She is cute&quirky and her voice would soar through this music.She is the missing ingredient in this star studded cast.And please she was our original broadway bride...come on I want to see her in another wedding dress.I can't wait to come back but can we find out when Tina might be on? NOw that is the show I wanna see!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 1:06pm

Here is the thing that bothers me: The useless vitriol on either side.

I despised this show. It was not fun or entertaining for me, in any way.
Other people love it, great, excellent, please continue to see it. But please stop telling me I should love it. I promise I do not think you are wrong or crazy to like it.

If more people like it, then it will run and be a hit and people will stay employed.
If more people dislike it, it will close, and a different show that different people like will take the theatre and different people who may be unemployed now will have a job.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 2:44pm

Did someone tell you you should love it?

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 3:12pm

I always wonder if people involved in the show read threads like this and actually TAKE some of the suggestions to heart.

I found this show to be a surprising guilty pleasure but people are bringing up the SAME issues I noticed: Laura (whether you blame it on her part or her, something's got to be done, she needs some warmer lines or something) and that STUPID Vegas scene that goes on entirely too long (and the fact that in that said scene not enough was made of Laura's reaction to "Grow Old With You")

I wish they'd handed out suggestion cards, because as a person who GENERALLY enjoyed the show, if I'm seeing these problems, and then other people are bringing them up too... I don't know. Hopefully they'll catch on. That's what previews are for but sometimes I don't think shows use their preview period to ACTUALLY fix things that are wrong.(That would be EASY TO FIX) In the case of that Vegas scene, just cutting the dialoge and letting us SEE the characters following him around is enough of a sight gag.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 3:50pm

Yes, people on both sides are intent upon making it seem that everyone should agree with them, and that those who don't are either stupid or have bad taste. People who hate it should stop making seem as though that is the only acceptable response as well.

My post was more generally addressed to the nastiness of this thread than to any specific comment.

LeaGirl, I agree completely.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 3:56pm

I don't care what anyone thinks about a show, or anything else quite frankly. I'm secure in my opinions and know what I like and don't like. However, when it comes to personal insults like this "anyone who thinks this show is good has no taste" I will strike back. Someone did actually say this.

Updated On: 4/4/06 at 03:56 PM

[smartpenguin78]

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

Yes.
I have no issue with that, Jane. I have an issue with the viciousness that is going on both sides in this thread.

The claims that people who like the show are invalid, stupid, or shillish are wrong and childish.
It is also true that people who dislike this show are being accused of "snobishness" or the claim is made that they somehow invalid in that opinion. This is also wrong.

[rah]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:11pm

So many valid comments - hopefully all directed at a better WS. Perhaps we do need a new thread, but meanwhile I must agree with Poneyupboy99. Were you at the gypsy run-through?

Is there any chance/hope that Tina could do a preview?