"Wedding Singer" Variety Review

[jimnysf]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 8:45pm

"The auspicious partnership of producers Margo Lion, New Line Cinema and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater brought Broadway "Hairspray" in 2002, so naturally hopes have been high for the trio's second venture, "The Wedding Singer," which debuted Thursday night in Seattle. The new show, like its predecessor, cleverly renders in costume and song the excesses of a particular era (in this case, 1980s New Jersey rather than 1960s Baltimore). But in other key respects, "The Wedding Singer" is no "Hairspray" -- at least not yet...the movie, the leads were played by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, two actors who shared a misfit charm that made their partnership seem inevitable. Here, Robbie is played by Comedy Central's Stephen Lynch and Julia by Laura Benanti -- performers arguably more vocally and dramatically talented than their screen counterparts, but somehow less suited to the material. Both exude a kind of wholesome niceness that comes across as almost bland; they're attractive, but we never see the idiosyncrasies that mark them for each other. It's hard to say from the outside whether this is a problem of casting, direction, or writing...In general, the second half of the show is tighter than the first. Here, almost all the songs move the narrative forward, and some of the most interesting secondary characters -- all perfectly cast -- get a chance to shine: Julia's sleazy Wall Street fiance Glen (Richard H. Blake) leads a rollicking ode to '80s greed, "All About the Green." Robbie's pals (Kevin Cahoon, Matthew Saldivar) show their silly, endearing sides in "Single." And Grandma Rosie gets to "Move That Thang." ..."


The Wedding Singer

Updated On: 2/10/06 at 08:45 PM