River City Community Players "Wedding Singer" review by quickcat

THE WEDDING SINGER SINGS!!!!!

Rating: 5

The Wedding Singer

River City Community Players

Last Friday I saw a great musical comedy open up in Leavenworth…THE WEDDING SINGER was a huge production by the River City Community Players directed wonderfully by Eric Van Horn, Musical Direction by Lauren Wilson and choreography by Kristen Seefeldt.  If you are a fan of the movie you are in for a treat. I didn't really know what to expect traveling so far out of the way to a theatre I had never been to, to see a musical based on a movie that was over  10 years old set in an era that was 20 years ago…but let me tell you this show rocked! It follows the same basic outline of the film, changing things here or there or reinventing moments. But the source material is handled with care. Each actor brought something unique to their respective roles and it was a nice change of pace to see some fresh faces on stage here in the Kansas City area. It made me go out and buy the soundtrack (which is wonderful by the way).


As the Wedding Singer Robbie Hart, Brian Shortess does a very good job of riding the line between originality and the Adam Sandler-esque stuff you expect. He has a great voice, though at times seemed to struggle…I chalk that up to opening night jitters though as the young man was on stage more than anyone in the show. I thought he danced very well and had a great timing in most of his dialog. I did however think his microphone was too loud during group songs and duets, though not a bad thing when solo. He was very memorable in the number that replaces Love Stinks from the movie… He dances with a group of "losers" in what can only be called an homage to the music video "THRILLER" and you understand why he feels the way he does by the events that happen to him. He reminded me of a young Ben Affleck…which is weird to say but it is his delivery style, clear with a good resonance and his ability to convey heart, hurt and humor in just his smile or look does wonders. He isn't the egg-shaped head of Sandler, he is more Matinee star than goof, but somehow he makes it work being the Robbie he needs to be. I also really enjoyed the fact that he had very good chemistry with the other characters on stage especially Julia and his grandmother Rosie… I wish though that the song "Today you are a man" was left in(it replaced the bar-mitzvah scene in the movie but was cut from this production) as it would really show Robbie's fun and funny side. You want to root for an underdog…well you have one in this young man.


As the waitress and main female lead Julia Sullivan, Vanessa Harper sparkles and does an amazing job of playing an understated character well. Julia isn't the flash in the show, or the goofy one… She is the heart to Robbie's soul. Vanessa has a wonderful air of wide-eyed hopefulness that shows in her numbers, and in every scene. Her voice could rival any that are on Broadway right now and I could draw comparisons to Idina Menzel or Sutton Foster in her delivery and style of singing, I am honestly surprised by the amount of talent that has and that I had not seen her perform someplace else. Her Julia is sweet and innocent just as Drew Barrymore's was but where they differ is that once she sings you are now invested in her 100%. You can't take your eyes off of her when she is onstage, not because she is beautiful, which she most certainly is, but because you want to see what she is going to do next. In particular the song Dumpster is a thrill to see because you get a feel for the kind of song and heart that she gives throughout the show. I would venture to say that without her the show would have a much different feel. Best performance I have seen by a leading woman in a musical in years.

Bradley J. Thomas gives a memorable performance as the arrogant and pompous yet smooth and charismatic fiancé to Julia, Glen Gulia. I guess what you would really call the bad guy of the show and the obstacle of Julia and Robbie's love. He has some great lines and is a bit more expanded than the one note character from the film. He dances well if somewhat unpolished. But he really brings it with his singing, acting and commitment to the scene. His singing in his big number "All about the Green" is about as Broadway a sound as any, again I am surprised by a talent that should be in another market or venue. He is funny, you want to hate him even though he is making you laugh and his snap thing is funny as hell. He is a powerhouse of a singer that reminds me of Adam Pascal and Brian Stoakes Mitchell with a look that is a young  Billy Dee Williams… in fact he has that smoothness, almost oily nature to the Glen character  that makes you think of a combo of Wall Street and Harlem Nights. Again watching this young man is wonderful and tight, something you wouldn't normally say for a character that if in other hands could have been forgettable


As Julia's more sex and style driven cousin, Holly, Jessica Knecht plays quirky well. Her singing and dancing are great and her scene work with Julia and the rest of the cast is enjoyable. Her relationship to Sammy is just as sweet as Julia and Robbie's romance but with a funnier edge. Her song "Right in front of your eyes" is sweet and funny with clever blocking and dance. She electrifies in the large dance number that finishes the first act "Saturday Night" and has a very big surprise at the end that really delivers something unexpected. She brings to mind the new breed of Hollywood female Icons like Anne Hathaway or Amy Adams, the funny and quirky girls that have both humor and Beauty. Very enjoyable and holds her own onstage and gives a very great performance.


As Robbie's best friend and comic relief Sammy, Jeff Adams comes off as a solid performer, in scenes that could be played for laughs he does with style and panache. Great timing and playoff from all the characters he interacts with, it is a joy to watch. While different from the movie, the character in some ways is a better interpretation in the musical. He brings to life a certain quality that makes you like him more and more…and you really want him to get together with Holly as much as the Robbie/Julia situation. He inhabits a world of men that includes Chris Farley and Mark Addy, those funny guys that have heart and that are actually more graceful than you give them credit for. His singing on the other hand was smoky and almost bluesy with a kind of grit when rocking out that harkened back to Rod Stuart or Brian Adams. Great watching this guy perform…just a joy!


As Robbie's other band mate and bestie George, Nekoma Mahkewa is super funny. Though not the traditional casting for George I have seen, he brings more heart, love and humor than any of the iterations on stage or in the film. He sings and dances quite well and his sweet personality and playful demeanor is such that he works off the other characters well. I particularly liked the part where he was talking about General Hospital to both Robbie and Sammy…super funny moment. His song with Robbie's Grandma is a crowd favorite and very comical. In certain aspects I found that he reminded me of Adam Beach, and his singing was very much like Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel from the Original cast and film of RENT). I super enjoyed the care he took in not making him a stereotype and a real fleshed out character!


As Grandma Rosie, Tracy Mcclung is funny! She very caring and delivers both humor and heart with wit and wonder. She has a youth to her that I have not seen in other productions and that was a refreshing change of pace. I really enjoyed her comic stuff which was the bulk of her stage time, but she had some touching moments with both Robbie and Julia at the end of the show. My favorite part in the film was Rosie, so I was hoping that she lived up to it, and she did!


As the heartless bride to be Linda who doesn't show up to the wedding, Nicole Theno does a great job of playing someone who doesn't care until she can't find anyone else to go with so comes back to Robbie at his lowest point. She has a great voice that lends a rock quality to the character and is a direct contrast to Julia's sweet tones. I would have liked to see her dance expanded in the second act but what she did worked. She reminded me of Glen Close in Fatal Attraction with her attitude…and singing wise rocker Joan Jett. Though less stage time than the others she was memorable, and not just for the "wardrobe malfunction"...it happens, it's live theatre.


The rest of the cast was solid and strong, moving the action of each scene along and adding life to the backgrounds. They had a feel for what was happening on stage and had some very fun numbers and choreography to work with. From beginning to end of this show I was tapping my toes, smiling, laughing and crying with each moment as it passed. I was glad that I had the chance to see a great production of something I didn't think I would enjoy and ended up being something I will never forget. Best musical I have seen anywhere in recent years and I hope that many more people go see it. I might even have to come back for another viewing…it was that good!


read the review at KC Stage