‘The Wedding Singer’ musical: as madcap and aesthetically hilarious as the original film was

Perth-based musical producer and director Drew Anthony knows a thing or two about putting on a good show. Already he has enjoyed success with musical productions of Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Chicago, A Chorus Line, and Strictly Ballroom. Next up, things get a little more 1980s-themed with his highly entertaining musical The Wedding Singer.

As most people would know, The Wedding Singer was one of the most popular movies of the 1990s even though it was set smack-bang in the middle of 1985, when hairstyles were big and bad, and fashions just as ghastly.

Anthony has fun with the bad taste aspect of the era, as does his wardrobe director Annette Stivaletta who appears to have scrummaged to the bottom of the barrel of AliExpress and the base of the bargain bin in every second-hand clothing store in Perth to source some truly over-the-top costumes for this bright production. As for the big hair, my god, this is such a crucial factor in the overall aesthetic of the show, that there are no less than three people listed in the credits responsible for the sourcing of wigs.

I swear, some of the wigs and costuming are so spot-on, when I squinted I thought I was watching Drew Barrymore’s Julia on stage (kudos to Kate Sisley for all her passion and energy, and to Greg Jarema as Robbie Hart for not only playing the MC in the story well, but being the MC/host of the actual musical – a very meta move).

Retro aesthetics aside and to the actual performances, every one in this production is actually very good – all knowing full-well that their gestures and lines are to be delivered tongue-in-cheek for the most part. Even when we watched Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in the lead roles in the original film version of The Wedding Singer, we knew their main aim was to poke fun at an era we’re being cool meant looking unique and over-the-top, and that having a good time was key. In Anthony’s production, each and every character is unique – and even when some kind of chorus line is taking place, there’s a certain nuance of each individual that makes them stand out of the loud crowd.

While hearing everyone speak and sing in exaggerated American accents sometimes gets annoying, it’s kind of necessary in a musical based on a film that was quintessentially American. And just one more gripe about the production – where were the 1980s hit songs? While it’s great to see and hear fresh musical numbers created for the stage, it would have been nice to hear a little Culture Club, Kajagoogoo or Spandau Ballet within the production.

That said, f you’re looking to take the family or your partner to a light-hearted, joke-heavy, fun-filled show this fortnight, The Wedding Singer might just be the ticket.

Antonino Tati

‘The Wedding Singer’ is on at Theatre Royale in Northbridge until August 4th. Tickets are available through the usual outlets or through drewanthonycreative.com.au direct. 

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