#1
Posted: 2/4/06 at 9:17pm
Saw Wedding Singer last night at the Fifth.
Best way to articulate it: "Eh."
Bland, fairly mediocre and long, with a singular joke that goes on WAY too long (i.e. the whole "Eighties thing" -- by the middle of act two you want to just shout "Enough already! It's the Eighties... We get it!")
The leads were acceptable, nothing spectacular. The rest of the cast were similarly forgetable, and 'George' really needs work. Two standouts, however, included 'Linda,' the ex-fiancee, and the woman who played the 'slutty banquet server.' Both were quite good within their roles. The role of Linda was one of the few that actually give the performers anything to work with. She was a clear standout in a sea of mediocrity.
Music was mediocre, sets were good, costuming and lighting were very good, but I can't say many more positive things about it.
To be fair, I'm probably not the producers' target audience: I don't find rapping grandmas to be particularly humorous, and I found the song "My Eight Men" to be downright painful. As a former New Yorker, I think the Bar Mitzvah scene may play better back East, but it didn't play well here at all. At the same time, I'm sure the thing will find an audience somewhere for a year or so.
As the producers continue to work on it, I'm sure they'll get it so the NYC tourists will be happy, but overall -- despite Seattle's ridiculously obligatory stanging ovation -- well -- let's just say "eh."
Best way to articulate it: "Eh."
Bland, fairly mediocre and long, with a singular joke that goes on WAY too long (i.e. the whole "Eighties thing" -- by the middle of act two you want to just shout "Enough already! It's the Eighties... We get it!")
The leads were acceptable, nothing spectacular. The rest of the cast were similarly forgetable, and 'George' really needs work. Two standouts, however, included 'Linda,' the ex-fiancee, and the woman who played the 'slutty banquet server.' Both were quite good within their roles. The role of Linda was one of the few that actually give the performers anything to work with. She was a clear standout in a sea of mediocrity.
Music was mediocre, sets were good, costuming and lighting were very good, but I can't say many more positive things about it.
To be fair, I'm probably not the producers' target audience: I don't find rapping grandmas to be particularly humorous, and I found the song "My Eight Men" to be downright painful. As a former New Yorker, I think the Bar Mitzvah scene may play better back East, but it didn't play well here at all. At the same time, I'm sure the thing will find an audience somewhere for a year or so.
As the producers continue to work on it, I'm sure they'll get it so the NYC tourists will be happy, but overall -- despite Seattle's ridiculously obligatory stanging ovation -- well -- let's just say "eh."
