Eye rolling and harrumphing over Broadway musical writers being out of ideas feels pretty banal at this stage in the game. It’s no secret that creators of musical theater are relying more than ever on movie and television adaptations (right now, two Disney movies, a Jack Black vehicle, an underwater cartoon series and a heartwarming indie film are all inspiring shows currently on Broadway). I’m generally of the opinion that while many adaptations can feel tired and tiresome, I’m not willing to write off this type of show automatically — Broadway has been borrowing material from other sources basically since its inception.
All of that is one large wind-up, though, to the unsurprising declaration that the 90s Adam Sandler romantic comedy The Wedding Singer probably didn’t need to be a Broadway musical when it premiered back in 2006. More than a decade later, NextStop Theatre is doing its best to turn the middling musical into an entertaining evening at the theater. Despite the work’s flaws, the production often (if not always) succeeds at that.
Things get festive right at the outset — as audience members make for their seats, they’re entreated to join the “wedding guests” onstage getting down to “The Electric Slide.” NextStop’s talented ensemble dons colorful, era-appropriate costumes (from puffed-sleeve bridesmaid dresses to Madonna-esque clubwear) and sweats their way through athletic and intense (if occasionally a little crass — think multiple instances of crotch-grabbing) choreography. They’re doing their best to channel the infectious energy of a more successful musical, like the fellow time capsule show Hairspray or the slight bubble gum hit Legally Blonde.
The Wedding Singer is a comedic romance between the titular Robbie (Ricky Drummond) and his coworker, the recently-engaged waitress Julia (Molly Rumberger). Robbie’s in a minor career crisis, having sworn off performing at weddings after his longtime girlfriend leaves him at the altar. Meanwhile, he’s spending more time with Julia, helping her with her own wedding planning since her self-centered Lothario fiancé (James Finley, who makes for a fine foil) has shirked his duties. Hijinks and complications, of course, will further complicate their budding closeness.
Clocking in at 24 songs, The Wedding Singer needed some editing (a couple potential cuts: Glen’s finance jargon-riddled second-act opener “All About the Green,” which inexplicably gets a reprise; the cliche-ridden ode to playing the field, “Single”) . None of the numbers have much staying power beyond the easy charmer “Grow Old With You,” a holdover from the film. The show’s best stage number is probably “Someday,” where Julia whirls her way through another couple’s wedding reception, dreaming of her own eventual wedded bliss. The Wedding Singer should be given props for not being a jukebox musical, but given the film was more successful relying largely on existing 80s hits, it’s hard not to wonder if it might have worked better as one.
The Wedding Singer traffics pretty heavily in stereotypes: the sexually-aggressive best friend (Amanda Leigh Corbett), the flamboyant gay bandmate (Evan LaChance). The movie is generally kinder to its main characters than the musical. Robbie is less clever and more hapless here, and Julia doesn’t feel like a fully-drawn character; she’s more of a vague sketch of a woman dying to be married and lacking the agency to take control of her life. The pair, though, is awarded the cute, goofy ballad “Come Out of the Dumpster” to build some chemistry (even if one of them is effectively offstage during much of it).
Some gags from the film haven’t aged so well – Ellen Albertini Dow’s grandmother was a genuine scene-stealer as she rapped her way through “Rapper’s Delight.” Transforming that wacky moment into an extended, cheesy rap duet, “Move That Thing,” renders it stale. The play, though, adds some amusing zaniness to a climatic wedding scene in Vegas, weaving a crew of celebrity impersonators into the mix.
NextStop’s cast often rises above the material. LaChance’s mischievous and vivacious George is an utter delight whenever he’s on stage; Corbett shimmies and shines her way through her supporting numbers. Rumberger makes for a sweet-voiced, luminous Julia. Drummond, meanwhile, is a likeable enough presence as Robbie, but his performance lacks any real edge or volatility. The same can be said for The Wedding Singer.
The Wedding Singer . Book by Chad Beguelin & Tim Herlihy. Music by Matthew Sklar. Lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Written by Tim Herlihy. Directed by Evan Hoffman. Choreographed by Cathy Oh and Mark Hildalgo. Costumes by Amy McDonald. With Ricky Drummond, Molly Rumberger, Joshua Redford, Amanda Leigh Corbett, Evan LaChance, James Finley, Marylee Nicholas, Rachel Barlaam, Carolyn Burke, Jaclyn Young, Ivana Alexander, Carl Williams, Colton Needles, Rick Westerkamp, Amanda Spellman. Produced by , NextStop Theatre Company. Reviewed by Missy Frederick.
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