Wedding Singer Review for Wed. 4/5

[kyguy78]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 9:24pm

Just got back in town from NYC and we had a great time. We saw Rent, Avenue Q, Beauty and the Beast, and The Wedding Singer.

Last night we saw The Wedding Singer and I must say that it was A LOT better than I thought it would be. I thought Stephen Lynch was great in the lead role and it's obvious that he's got the charisma to carry the show. I thought Laura did a solid job as well. I know she's got a lot of knocks for being cast as Julia, but I thought she was able to do something with a part that was terribly underwritten.

The worst thing about last night was the fact that Amy Spanger was out! Cara Cooper did a servicable job in her place, but I can just see Amy owning the stage with that role. Overall, except for Cara's understudy performance, I thought all of the cast did a very good job with the show last night. I thought Stephen and the boys in the band had a great chemistry together and it seemd like the whole cast was having a great time on stage.

The songs aren't anything you go "WOW" over, but they are definitely catchy and as I was leaving last night, I heard people humming and singing various snippets of "It's Your Wedding Day," "Come Out of the Dumpster," and "Grow Old With Me." I thought the show flowed pretty well for the most part, but I do believe it needs a little more polish to tighten up the love story between Julia and Robbie.

There are some very funny 80's references and, yes it may seem a little cheesy, but I dare anyone who was born before 1985 not to at least crack a smile when the Thriller dance moves are brought out! This is a fun show that I think will be a solid performer on Broadway and could be the big hit of the season. It's an extremely likeable cast with some catchy songs and it's mindless fun that a lot of people will gravitate toward.

Also, at the end of the show, the audience gave the cast a standing ovation. I stayed after and got my picture taken with Stephen Lynch and he autographed a CD for me.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 11:05pm

Cool. Great Review. Glad you had a good time. How was the audience? Pretty full?

[kyguy78]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 11:46pm

The orchestra was full and what I could see of the mezz was pretty packed as well.

[Racetrack]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 12:45am

I'm glad to hear you liked it. I liked it when it was here and Stephen Lynch was funny and good in the role.

[XxpunklovexX]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 3:47am

Does anyone know why Amy was out? Was it to give Cara a runthrough with an audience? Saw Amy four times during the Seattle run and WOW I definitely have a new favorite actress! Why doesn't she have an official webpage?

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 11:13am

Cool. I'm glad to hear it. I'm seeing it in two weeks.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 11:15am

Spanger is sick.

[Anakela]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 3:10pm

Spanger is sick.

Ah, ok- I was just going to post that Spanger was also out last night (Fri 4/7) when I saw it.

kyguy78, I am glad to hear you had such a great time seeing it!

[Yeah, um, no.]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 6:16pm

Spanger was out sick for today's matinee as well. Cara Cooper was competant in the role, but Amy really owns it.

Lots of nips and tucks since last week, but the first act still feels a little long. And the audience still loves it. In particular, huge reaction to the pong reference and all of the imposters at the end of second act, 2 of the most hated elements on this board. Go figure.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 6:21pm

Hope Amy feels better soon and comes back to the show ASAP.. she's great as Holly. I'm seeing the show again this Tuesday!

Updated On: 4/8/06 at 06:21 PM

[kyguy78]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 9:29pm

I think you just have to look at the musical the same you do the movie: they're nothing awe-inspiring, but for nostalgia factor and a good time, they're pretty darn good.

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:20am

Oh I really really want to see this.... to bad I'm broke.

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:40am

I don't know...I was very wary going into the show last week about the bit with the imposters at the end, especially after reading all the reactions on this board. But when it was actually happening, I couldn't help but laugh. For some reason, hearing Stephen Lynch be like "No, fake Tina Turner..." and "Excuse me, Mr. fake President?" made me laugh really hard. Plus, Richard Blake getting to go "Is what fake Imelda Marcos says true?!" was just so stupidly silly and funny...I couldn't help but laugh at it.

I'm possibly seeing the show again this Saturday. I hope that Amy is better...Cara was great, but I really hope I get to see Amy. Plus, I'm excited to see any little tweaks and changes that they've done to the show in the past week.

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:45am

Anybody who's seen this more than once, what changes have you found so far? Saw it early in previews.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:49pm

I've seen it twice, and between the first and second time I saw it, they completely changed Laura's "pre dumpster" dialogue to make it funnier - it was a great change, though now of course I don't remember exactly what was said the first (or second) time, I just remember going "wait... THAT works better"

[Yeah, um, no.]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 1:06pm

Also the first dumpster scene, where Robbie is trying to write a song for Linda is MUCH shorter. Julia no longer offers her own lyrics, etc.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 1:08pm

I saw it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Amy Spanger was out.

Does anyone know when they made the wig changes for the leads? Stephen is no longer wearing one, and Laura is. And I have to say, I like it this way SOO much better.

[kyguy78]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:01pm

I agree that the imposters at the end was funny in a cheesy kind of way. The best part though was when the fake Billy Idol walks across stage with the plane!!!!

I also agree with kidmanboy about the wigs, especially Stephen. He looks a lot better with his natural hair than the mullet wig!

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:32pm

I can't wait to see this..I'm going in like 2 weeks. Hopefully, Amy will be there. I really want to see her and Stephen Lynch.