The Wedding Singer Preview (Live)- Page 2

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:22am

what the show really has going for it (from seeing it today) is the high energy performances and commitment from the entire cast. Everyone up on that stage is committed to the material wholely. They are having a blast, and so the audience was having a blast. Stephen, Laura, Amy, Felicia, Kevin... ALL gave outstanding performances. I was completely satisfied by each of them and never thought any were miscast... even the much whispered about Benanti.

The show is very funny, and very entertaining. I missed a bit of the 80s so I wasn't quite up with all the references, but even without that previous knowledge, things were very funny. And i knew things were going over my head but that was never distracting. Things still worked.

A little tweaking here and there will really make this show a TONY contender! I'll have to post more thoughts on this later when its not 1am :)

Updated On: 3/31/06 at 01:22 AM

[BROADWAYFAN3]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:37am

my cheecks hurt from smiling/laughing for 3 hours. its fantastic

[Parks]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:44am

Oh no--they cut Wonder? I like that song

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:44am

Bwayleadman, I also thought Linda and Holly were the best roles in the show....totally.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:51am

Which song is "Wonder" again?

Good thing they cut "My 8 Lovers". Unfunny and slowed down the pace. What book changes were there? Is Glen more unlikable right off the bat now? Is Julia still an ice princess? And did they amp up Linda's part, by any chance? (Not that there were really any opportunities where they could extend her scenes and still be loyal to the movie, but by GOD is that woman HOT!)

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:54am

Luck Stephen that gets to "perform" with her 8 times a week. : )

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 1:56am

i dont remember wonder either...hmmm....

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 2:03am

I can see this one being really commercially successful and having a loyal following, but unless there were serious overhauls in the book and songs, I can't see it being up to snuff come Tony time. Just my speculation from what I saw in Seattle - could be much different now. (I didn't see any chemistry between Laura and Stephen whatsoever, so I hope the new dialogue has at least tried to compensate for that.)

Is the relationship between Holly and...can't-remember-his-name been fleshed out?

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 2:13am

there are so many people in this show i love, i can't wait

[BROADWAYFAN3]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 7:54am

LOVED IT, JUST GOT UP AND RE LAUGHING AT SOME OF IT FROM YESTERDAY

[ruprecht]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 8:42am

I don't see the "great" reviews on ATC. there's one thread and it's mostly negative esp about Benanti, Margo.

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:07am

there have been people who've had problems with her (benanti) cast in this role from the beginning. But in her defense... go see her and check out her performance now. From what i've heard, you can't even compare. The role has been changed a lot, and she really does well in it. They've changed her wig and shoes... which may sound minor but really, that alone has made a WORLD of a difference.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:18am

The characters still are not fleshed out. They seem to be forced to move from one plot point in the movie to another.

I also did not think they were all high energy and dedicated. The cast is talented, and some where really selling it, but some major cast members were far from convincing.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:18am

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=241387
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=241350
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=241335
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=241457
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=241329

Those are very strong reviews for a first preview and those are some veteran highly critcal theatregoers writing those posts. If Seth (who's in the business) and Krebsman (who sees 100 shows a year, going back to the 60s) enjoyed it so much and are calling it a must-see, it's a great sign for the show.

Updated On: 3/31/06 at 10:18 AM

[QMAN03]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:19am

Dang, I might have to see this now in August. How was the attendance last night?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:23am

It was almost full, there were a few empty seats near me, but I was on the second to last row of the Mezz.

Now I just wonder what I missed. Most of the people in the theatre loved it, but I was deathly bored.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:32am

Being in the mezz sometimes attributes to that in some shows.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:32am

I thought it was a good time. There are certainly parts that need to be worked on, but the music is quite good and the production values are very similar to Hairspray, which I loved.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:32am

YAAAAAAY LAURA!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:35am

I have seen many, many shows from the mezz. If I was going to be entertained, I would have been entertained.

Those ATC reviews, just wow, "the tony is Lynch's to lose," "this is the best new show of the season," "a must see"= Especially the thing about Lynch I can not abide.

I would agree- it is very similar to Hairspray in many ways. Which were negatives for me. I thought Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was far superior to both.

Updated On: 3/31/06 at 10:35 AM

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:42am

I'm seeing it tomorrow afternoon, and I'm way more excited now that I've read this thread! Yay!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:45am

could someone post a list of musical numbers from the first preview?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:45am

I'm seeing it tomorrow afternoon, and I'm way more excited now that I've read this thread! Yay!

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:49am

Oh... I was right.

I know it would get better, and it definitely did.
Now I should see it for myself. My dad will DEFINITELY like it for sure.
Hope all of us like it.

My mom wasn't a big fan of the movie, so I hope the musical will change her opinions.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 10:55am

broadwaybelter, here you go:

Act 1
"It's Your Wedding Day"
"Right on Time"
"Awesome"
"It's Your Wedding Day" (rep)
"Right on Time" (rep)
"A Note From Linda"
"Pop"
"Somebody Kill Me"
"Rosie's Note"
"Casualty of Love"
"Come out of the Dumpster"
"Today You are a Man"
"George's Prayer"
"Not That Kind of Thing"
"Saturday Night in the City"

Act 2
"All About the Green"
"Right in front of Your Eyes"
"Single"
"If I Told You"
"Let Me Come Home"
"If I Told You" (rep)
"Move That Thang"
"Grow Old With You"
"It's Your Wedding Day" (finale)