What do you think of when you remember the 1980’s? For me it is probably ra-ra skirts for girls and tight black leather trousers for the boys. There are those, and much more, in the high-energy, colourful production of The Wedding Singer, that has just ended its run at the Gallery Studio, Ipswich.
The talented cast of sixteen were obviously loving every moment of their slickly-rehearsed dancing and singing, telling the story of Robbie, a wedding singer and his two-piece band, Sammy and George, (played by Wade Ablitt, with Charlie Leggett and Daniel Mack Shand). It tells of romance, unrequited love, jilted brides and bridegrooms but, finally, the right couples do get to the altar, notwithstanding the hiccups along the way.
The talented young cast, Robbie, his musicians and waitresses Julia (Harriet Bacon) and Holly (Chloe Brown), are excellent and are ably supported by Ryan Cope (playing Glen, the wonderfully odious fiancé), the two older characters, Angie (Steph Brown) and Rosie (Maggie Mudd) and a strong chorus of singers and dancers.
Stand out moments for me? The sizzling chemistry between Robbie and Julia, the performance of punk-rock bride (Linda Del Gotti) and the surprisingly sexy singing grandma Rosie… and her wedding gift of a vibrating bed! Two technical ‘tricks’ that also made us laugh, were the tossed bridal bouquet, that made it to Holly’s hands courtesy of an obvious wire… and the ‘revolving restaurant’ portrayed by the customers moving their wheeled tables and chairs in a circle around the stage.
Congratulations must go to the costume team especially with ‘Fake Dolly Parton’, ‘Fake Madonna’ etc and all those 1980’s wedding dresses! They brilliantly brought 1985 back to us, on a simple stage set, an archway of lights, with some projections and a minimum of props.
Congratulations to Wide Eye Productions (in association with the Gallery Players). This was a musical that I has never seen before, it was MUCH funnier than I expected, and we left with a spring in our step and a smile on our faces.
A huge thank you to Rachel Sloane for that guest review. I really appreciate guest reviews, especially if I can’t get to a show, or if someone is seeing a show I may not have realised is on. It’s good to cover as much Suffolk theatre as possible.
If you would like to write a guest review for the website then please email me at georgy@suffolktheatre.co.uk
SUFFOLK THEATRE 