Review: Love is in the air at Firehouse Theatre's THE WEDDING SINGER!

 THE WEDDING SINGER

Book by Chad Beguelin & Tim Herlihy
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed by Owen & Ally Beans
Music Direction by Jason Philip Solis
Produced by The Firehouse Theatre, Farmers Branch

Audience Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes plus 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Performance: Not Available
Production Sound Level: Comfortable Sound Level
Noises or Visuals to Prepare for: none

Reviewed by Glynda Welch

There are almost as many moments to love in The Wedding Singer as there are minutes of running time. It doesn’t matter if you liked Tim Herlihy’s 1998 movie, hated it, or never saw it. If you lived through the 80s, love making fun of the 80s, or have no knowledge of the 80s just get your reservations. You will be signing up for more than 2 hours of laughter, toe-tapping and fun. Set in 1985, the story follows wedding singer Robbie Hart (Max Rose) who falls in love with waitress Julia Sullivan (Alli Crabtree). Naturally, the course of true love never runs smoothly so there is lots to get through before Robbie & Julia get the chance to grow old together.

Rose takes this gift of a role and throws his many talents into crafting a delightful Robbie. He wears his feelings on his face and we watch him go from sweet, cheerful & kind to comatose, depressed & angry. As his face changes, so do his posture, movement, and vocal tones. Crabtree’s Julia is earnestly sweet. It’s easy to root for her as realizations dawn.  Robbie’s nemesis is his fiancée, Linda (Sophia Rodrigues Patterson) who not only dumps him on their wedding day, but does it by sending him a note. Patterson has lots of fun with her bad-girl role and makes sure the audience will too. 

Band mates Sammy (Dayton Wilson) and George (Dylan Ciminna) have Robbie’s back. Wilson plays a mean bass guitar for real as Sammy. Ciminna’s tambourine playing George is wicked fantabulous (to borrow a little 80s slang).  Every time he was on stage, he had a moment. With these guys backing him up Robbie was bound to be okay, but just in case Grandma Rosie (Andi Allen) provided additional support. Allen was pitch-perfect in every scene. Rosie’s duet with George on “Move That Thang” brought down the house. 

Julia’s nemesis is her boyfriend Glen (Adam Seirafi) who delivers a smarmy Glen we had to resist booing. Like Robbie, Julia has backup. Her best friend Holly (Chloe Bonneau) and her mom Angie (Jill Baker) are mostly helpful, but do have their own agendas too. Bonneau shines with “Saturday Night in the City.” Baker, who also doubles in several ensemble roles, does a wonderful job of differentiating every appearance. 

The Wedding Singer needs a strong ensemble to succeed. This production has one. Like Baker, Shanespeare Alexander clearly differentiates multiple roles including a Mr. T impersonation. Zane Syjansky’s Billy Idol impersonation rocks. Denise Johnson delivers a convincing Imelda Marcos. Simon Heimersson gave us Ronald Reagan as wedding officiant. Ailayah Smith brought us Tina Turner. Completing the ensemble were Evie Atwell, Tony Barone, Axel Patino, and Grace Philipbar. 

Kudos to Choreographer Kelsey Jordan Ward for using every inch of the Firehouse stage. The dances were energetic, perfect for the time, and well executed. Costume Designer Dayna Rae Dutton’s choices were also just right for the time period. Multiple wedding dresses in different styles for the same time period is something of a feat. I miss the bright vivid colors of the 80s and enjoyed seeing them.

Live theater is so much fun, especially if it is a tightly directed musical romp like The Wedding Singer. Tickets are available at www.THEFIREHOUSETHEATRE.COM now through June 1st. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Plan to go early and treat yourself to dinner at one of the excellent restaurants just across the street or stay after and treat yourself to after show cocktails like Julia’s Gulia, Hold Me Now, or Robbie’s Hart at Locals Lounge. If you can’t wait grab a Wedding Slinger in the lobby.  

Experience Live Theater!

Glynda Welch