You are invited to crash one of several weddings in The Wedding Singer and have almost as much fun as the cast at the NextStop Theatre where one theatregoer was heard to say, "I could see that again."
The Wedding Singer is packed with frivolity, a large cast, pretty costuming, and rockin' music. (It's 1985, after all.)
And what can go wrong at a wedding (or two)? Audiences love 'em.
Everyone is dressed up in wedding finery, designed by costumer Amy MacDonald who has her hands full creating numerous outfits for many guests at many weddings.
Weddings mean music and dancing, and it's almost non-stop in this show, put on by choreographers, Cathy Oh and Mark Hidalgo, who have dancers matching steps magnificiently in great time, all the while singing. That it's a smaller stage than one would expect for a dance team this large is never a consideration. In this production, size does not matter.
THE bride and groom are the stars, of course: Molly Rumberger's tiny frame belies her strong voice, and Ricky Drummond carries the show.
Acting from one extreme to another is James Finley who is quite at ease, mind you, in duplicitous roles as the conniving Wall Street baron, another groom (the one you grow to hate), and a preacher man, characters all dressed appropriately in slick con man attire or clergy clothing, whatever is required. (Clothes make the man as Robbie, THE groom, shortly discovers.)
Several of my favorite characters are performed by Rick Westerkamp, the dance captain, who, like several cast members, has multiple roles, but he doubles, triples, barreling out on stage in the first number as the lucky groom, then, in the last scene, after several other roles, he is Imelda Marcos (still living, age 89) in varying shades of pink, head-to-toe with a wig (one of several crafted by Sue Pinkman) which extends about a foot towards the hanging lights, and "she" carries a shoe box!
Two of my other favorites were Grandmom Rosie (Marylee Nicholas) whose every sentence was a scream, and George (Evan LaChance), the adorable band member with long hair and bearing a great resemblance (at least in the dark, after the show (?)) to Conan O'Brien. With each of their appearances, the audience laughter grew louder.
My only complaints were the lighting, which no doubt has improved from missing the main performer a few times, and the "bad," totally gratuitous, offensive words which serve no purpose other than to make old fogies like me cringe. We did not use these now commonplace, vulgar words in the 80s and their omission would make the show suitable for a larger audience.
(The strip tease numbers and simulated sex scenes were not off putting.)
On the top row I had trouble at times hearing the single word which produced gales of audience laughter, but a youngster in her 20s who sat on the front row told me she missed some of the words, too.
Another reason not to sit on high is because you stand no chance of being selected by cast members to twirl around the dance floor before the show begins.
Take your dancin' shoes and get ready to spin!
The Wedding Singer is based on the 1998 movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. It opened on Broadway in 2006 and was nominated for eight Drama Desk awards and five Tonys, including Best Musical and Best Choreography.
The book is by Chad Beguelin (who also wrote the lyrics) and Tim Herlihy with music by Matthew Sklar. Evan Hoffmann directs.
Other cast members are: Joshua Redford, Amanda Leigh Corbett, Rachel Barlaam, and in the ensemble, Carolyn Burke, Jaclyn Young, Ivana Alexander, Carl Williams, Colton Needles, and Amanda Spellman.
Also on the creative team are J.D. Madsen, scenics; Brittany Shemuga, lighting; Reid May, sound; Alex Wade, properties; Laura Moody, stage manager; Kathleen Veer and Kate York, assistant stage managers; James Morrison and Jonathan Abolins, master electricians
Steve Przybylski conducts the orchestra and plays keyboards, assisted by Elisa Rosman; Chip Carvell and Rick Penalta are the guitarists, and on alternate nights, on the bass are Jared Creason and Jonas Creason, and, drums, Jim Hofmann and Alex Aucoin.
What: The Wedding Singer
When: Thursday through Saturday nights at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., weekend matinees at 2 p.m., now through October 14, 2018.
Where: NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 in the back right corner of Sunset Business Park, near the intersection of Spring Street/Sunset Hills Road. Right off the Fairfax County Parkway. A wee big hard to find on a first visit, so allow an extra 15 minutes. The program notes that GPS map systems often give incorrect driving directions once inside the Sunset Business Park. From the "Taste of the World" restaurant, circle counter-clockwise around the building and look for maroon awning
Free parking: Available near the door.
Admission: Tickets start at $40 with 20% discounts for eight or more. If any seats remain at curtain time, student rush tickets may be sold for $5 cash. Before the show, there are student discounts and senior discounts (for season purchases). For more information, check here.
Duration: About two hours with one intermission
Language rating: X
Skin and sex: Striptease numbers and simulated sex scenes
For more information: 703-481-5930 or BoxOffice@NextStopTheatre.org
patricialesli@gmail.com
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