We watched the film back in the day and now it’s time to go and see The Wedding Singer musical on stage in Bristol as part of its UK tour. Based on a vague recollection of the hit film, I’m hoping for a spot of light-hearted, cheesy fun this evening. I’ve heard on the grapevine that the show contains bad language but that it should be suitable for eight year olds and up, so I bring my younger sons who are ten and eight. I wonder how that will go . . .
THE WEDDING SINGER SYNOPSIS
It’s 1985 and Robbie Hart, a romantic wedding singer from New Jersey, gets his heart ripped apart when he’s jilted at the altar by his beloved fiancée. After the break up he tries to continue to do his job, but fails because he can’t contain his misery and ends up insulting his clients and spoiling their weddings. But how will the story end? Will Robbie win Linda back? Can the sweet-natured waitress, Julia lure Robbie out of his depression? Will Julia head off down the aisle with wealthy Wall Street bad boy Glen or would she be better off with Robbie?
THE WEDDING SINGER REVIEW
The show opens with a lively wedding party scene, featuring Robbie’s aptly named band, “Simply Wed” and a bride wearing a glitzy dress which is soon stripped back to reveal a cheeky mini dress. This is a great start!
West End and musical theatre star Jon Robyns has the task of filling Adam Sandler’s shoes, which he does admirably, becoming Robbie Hart, the wedding singer.
The fun continues as Robbie’s fiancée Linda (played by Tara Verloop) pokes her head, complete with purple hair extensions, up though the wedding cake on their big day to announce that she’s breaking up with him.
West End leading lady and X Factor finalist Cassie Compton plays Julia, the sweet waitress who tries to console heartbroken Robbie and manages to lure him out of a dumpster. Julia believes in love and dreams of being proposed to by her yuppy boyfriend Glen, (played by singer-songwriter Ray Quinn who shot to fame as the runner-up in ITV1’s The X Factor in 2006).
Julia’s fun-loving Madonna-styled best friend Holly is played by Roxanne Pallett, perhaps best known for her long-standing role as Jo in ITV’s Emmerdale.
Robbie’s grandma Rosie, (played by comedy veteran Ruth Madoc from Hi-De-Hi! and more recently Benidorm and Stella.) is an instant hit and her rap duet with George (Samuel Holmes) who we recognise from this year’s pantomime Cinderella, has the audience in stitches.
AGE SUITABILITY
There’s a fair bit of gyrating as well as blatant sexual and drug references in raunchy numbers like “All About The Green” and some downright sexy outfits which make me feel I ought to cover the boys’ eyes but if I do that then I’m afraid I won’t have enough hands spare to cover their ears to block out spicy language such as skanky wh*re, f*ck and pr*ck!
Having said all that, the show has comic appeal to all of us as a family. Robbie’s miserable song “Somebody Kill Me” amuses me and I realise the cynical lyrics aren’t lost on my eight year old either as I look across to see him laughing with his shoulders shaking almost in unison with mine! Even though my boys thoroughly enjoy the show and get a lot of the jokes, I think I should probably leave them at home next time! I think I’d find the show too explicit for my thirteen year old to be honest. Maybe I’ll think about taking him when he’s fifteen or sixteen.
THE VERDICT?
The show’s so funny that you’d forgive the cast if they weren’t amazing singers but of course they can all sing, dance and act as well. Cassie Compton has a beautifully pure voice and is perfect in her role as Robbie’s love interest, Julia.
We were expecting to hear well-known eighties pop songs and the music is catchy but mostly unfamiliar.
The husband and my boys all like the bar scene which they think is really clever but my favourite part is the funny song lyrics.
I came to The Wedding Singer hoping for a bit of lighthearted fun and I’m certainly not disappointed!
Click here for more information or to book tickets to The Wedding Singer or other shows. (affiliate link)
THE WEDDING SINGER CAST & CREDITS
Jon Robyns (Robbie Hart), Ray Quinn (Glen), Cassie Compton (Julia), Roxanne Pallett (Holly), Ruth Madoc (Grandma Rosie), Barbara Rafferty (Grandma Rosie in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness), Nadia Forde (Linda in Dublin), Samuel Holmes (George), Tara Verloop, (Linda), Paris Green, Hannah Jay-Allen, Susie Fenwick, Helen Walsh, Eamonn Cox, Simon Anthony, Ainsley Hall-Ricketts, Andrew Carthy, Mark Pearce, Ryan-Lee Seager and Erin Bell.
The Wedding Singer is produced by Dan Looney, Paulden Hall Productions, Tom O’Connell, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Tim Lawson.
Music by Matthew Sklar
Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Based upon the New Line Cinema film Written by Tim Herlihy
Directed and Choreographed by Nick Winston
Performances by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Ltd
THE WEDDING SINGER PERFORMANCES
THE WEDDING SINGER– 2017
FORTHCOMING UK TOUR DATES
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 March – Bristol Hippodrome
Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 March – Dartford, Orchard Theatre
Tuesday 28 March – Saturday 1 April – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 April – Southampton, Mayflower Theatre
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 April – Belfast, Grand Opera House
great!