The Wedding Singer (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

The Wedding Singer (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

When it comes to retro-action, it's hard to top The Wedding Singer, the 1980s-set film in which Adam Sandler sang in a wedding band and looked for his own true love. The soundtrack was wall-to-wall 80s hits and the movie played up visual references to that decade. Now we have the stage version, and it's even more retro than the movie, except this time around the songs are originals, written by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar. ("Somebody Kill Me" and "Grow Old With You" actually are the ones originals from the film.) The duo has delivered a silly-but-fun pop score that often refers to 80s musical styles without hitting you over head with themâ€”-you'll hear nods to early Madonna and Prince and a whole lot of cheesy synth lines. Think of it as the 80s answer to Hairspray. Opener "It's Your Wedding Day" and "Someday," for instance, will stick in your head for days on end. Singing comedian Stephen Lynch proves to be an endearing leading man, while silver-throated Laura Benanti takes up the Drew Barrymore part. But it's belter Felicia Finley who steals the show with her two Pat Benatarâ€“ish numbers, "A Note from Linda" and "Let Me Come Home." --Elisabeth Vincentelli

You might also like...