"Wedding Singer" Seattle Post Review

[jimnysf]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 8:36pm

The link to the review is attached.


"...The onslaught of big hair, slut chic and flanged fashions, paired with an ebullient and limber ensemble, creates a pastel palette cringe fest that is, well, totally awesome, for sure...Newcomer Stephen Lynch gleams as Robbie the wedding singer, whose very name ("rob your heart") makes a demand on our empathy that Lynch sweetly earns. He is the boy in the basement next door, living with his grandmother and going nowhere while everyone else finds material satisfaction. Where the film's Adam Sandler was an unhousebroken puppy, Lynch is an eager spaniel, chasing the story's cruelly thrown sticks without reserve. He is well-partnered with Broadway veteran Laura Benanti, whose waitress Julia is an anchor of muddled sensibility amid the frivolous maelstrom that surrounds her. With crystal voice, she puzzles between the expectations of her friends and the dictates of her heart... Holly (Amy Spanger) informs her friend Julia of the new outlook: "Money changes people -- for the better." Leaving Robbie at the altar, his heavy-metal goddess girlfriend Linda (Felicia Finley) sings a sizzling, showstopping excuse that he's no longer a Van Halen fantasy. Julia's fiancee, the chin-and-shoulders cad Glen (Richard H. Blake), explains musically to Robbie how "It's All About the Green," as the pinstripes and gray flannel flashdance about his junk-bond trading office..."




'Singer' totally, like, skewers the '80s

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 9:27pm

Stephen Lynch's albums are beyond hillarious, so I'm seeing this. If this whole show is half as funny as one of his songs, it's worth it.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 11:32am

Though people are certainly entitled to their opinions, this critic is yet again proving he is off his rocker. His reviews are always off the mark, confusing, mostly plot summary. I believe he used to write gardening reviews.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 11:39am

I wonder if he would recommend a water feature for a window box of pansies?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 11:44am

Now that he can do.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 12:16pm

Variety, The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly and Talkin' Broadway pretty much all in agreement: Benanti miscast, lyrics weak, story muddled. Shows potential, but needs serious overhaul.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 1:06pm

From what I heard on the "In Rehearsal" video on Broadway.com, the lyrics sounded good. Maybe not.

[jdixon69]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 1:14pm

Yeah, only TB really went after the lyrics. And if you want to be positive, there seems to be a consensus that the supporting characters are all very good.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 1:24pm

jdixon,

BWW's review also comments on the lyrics.


BWW Review

[RoseRed]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 3:53pm

Would anyone be willing to engage in some speculation about the Wedding Singer lifespan on b-way? I'm a big Stephen Lynch fan, and his appearance in the show was just the impetus I needed to plan a long-desired visit to NYC. However, I'm thinking I might not be able to go until September, and could that be too far off to be likely that (1) it's still open and (2) Lynch is still starring. I figure I'll have to wait for NYC reviews to have a true guess, but perhaps someone has an opinion?

Sept. tickets are availbale, but can you get a refund on advance ticket purchases if the cast changes?

First post - thanks

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 4:00pm

You should wait until the show makes the Broadway debut before buying tickets. Even if it becomes a MONSTER hit, you can still get good seats for September if you purchase them in April.
I would wager that Stephen would have at least a one year contract on the show. If Wedding Singer's still playing in September, he'll probably be in it.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 6:59pm

They all agree Felicia Finley is a show-stopper! Lovin' the Finley!

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 9:49pm

"But, after reading these reviews, it doesn't sound like SHE is the main problem. Sounds like the show is trying to hard to parody the 80s in a somewhat self-concious way. In HAIRSPRAY, the 60's are not parodied, but beloved. In GREASE, the 50's are more cool and hip, than embarrassing."

Very astute, ddtruitt. I totally felt this, that it was not lovingly treating the nostalgic aspect of the show. GREASE and HAIRSPRAY are great examples of getting it right. But there ARE good things about the 80's, but I don't think the Wedding Singer found them.

On the other hand, Benanti remains a big problem. And a simple fix. Since she was deemed miscast in every single review, I suspect that Maddigan will be doing it by the time it hits New York. And I think that will help the show immensely.

Sucks for Benanti, but it's honestly not her fault. She's so talented, this just wasn't the role for her to be playing. I hope she bounces back and finds something perfect to suit her unique and special talents.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 9:56pm

I tend to agree with Robbie. The show is a Broadway adaptation of a silly, fun little movie. And the role is so identified with Drew Barrymore - I'm sure thats the "type" an audience is going to want to see.

I mean they "could" rewrite the role and tailor it to fit Benanti's gifts - but if it completely changes Julia's character, what's the point? That's like doing a musical of PRETTY WOMAN and rewriting it to showcase Donna Murphy.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 9:59pm

One of the main points of the film was that Robbie and Julia's quirkiness brought them together. That is completely lost due to Benanti's classical look.

[Marguerite]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 10:08pm

I have seen the show three times here in Seattle. And while the critics have a few good points about clarity and there are fixes to be made, the show is absolutely charming and hilarious! At all shows that I have seen, the audience has lept to their feet at the end and Stepen and Laura were given an extended standing ovation! The reason for an out of town tryout is to see what works and what doesn't. they have 2 and a half months to fix the minor problems. People are gonna love this show!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 10:16pm

But are people going to love it enough to pay 100 dollars a ticket for it on Broadway - thats the question. I do think it will be overhauled pretty substantially. They won't run in NYC if they get reviews like they got in Seattle, but you are right - they have time to do a lot of fixing.

[pennylane2]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 8:00am

I am really excited to see this, I LOVE AMY!!!!!! and felicia too, but I have been a fan of Amy's since Kiss Me Kate and tick tick boom!! I think they will definitely be ready for NY, like everyone says, they have time! My friends saw it in Seattle and really enjoyed it. They said it was a fun show.