Theatre Review 'The Wedding Singer' At Gateway Theater

The Wedding Singer at the Gateway is Bursting with Over-the-Top Talent

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

The Wedding Singer, The Musical Comedy, is based on the 1988 movie of the same name, which starred Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. This Broadway musical picked up five Tony Award nominations, including “Best Musical,” eight Drama Desk Awards, and three Drama League Awards. The upbeat, fun, ’80s-style music is by Matthew Sklar, the lyrics are by Chad Beguelin, and the book is by Tim Herlihy and Chad Beguelin.

Cast of The Wedding Singer (photo Jeff Bellante)This well-crafted musical is a nostalgic rom-com romp set in the mid-1980s, a decade of excess. In keeping with the zeitgeist, Madonna’s “Material Girl” became the anthem for this “Decade of Greed.” At the same time, Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken encouraged the youth of America to follow the almighty dollar sign. So, it’s no wonder that Robbie Hart, the protagonist of The Wedding Singer, is torn between following his dream to make music or pursuing a more lucrative career on Wall Street. When the musical opens, Robbie is New Jersey’s most sought-after wedding singer whose life falls apart when he’s jilted at the altar. His despair, dejection, and depression lead him down the road to ruin, and as a result, he becomes the wedding singer from hell. At his lowest point, he finds himself tossed in a dumpster, and this scene is pivotal in the musical because this is where and when Robbie first begins to connect with the waitress, Julia Sullivan.

I was so looking forward to seeing Stony Brook resident Douglas Goodhart in the lead role of Robbie Hart. Unfortunately, Mr. Goodhart contracted COVID-19 and could not make the opening night. I wish this Long Island talent a speedy recovery so he can get back onstage soon. In the meantime, the show must go on, and the incredibly talented Jose Contreras stepped in at the last moment to save the day. Mr. Contreras gave a strong performance as Robbie, aptly displaying his vocal and comedic talents, especially during his solo, “Somebody Kill Me.” Sarah Ellis was believable and likable as Julia Sullivan, a naïve, trusting, kind young woman engaged to a womanizing Wall Street wheeler-dealer. There was great onstage chemistry between Ms. Ellis and Mr. Contreras, and they rocked their outrageous duet, “Come Out of the Dumpster.”

Janet Aldrich was outstanding as Robbie’s young-at-heart, hot-to-trot, up-close-and-personal grandmother. Ms. Aldrich revealed her strong comedic skills throughout the show, and her solo, “A Note from Grandma,” made the audience burst out in spontaneous laughter when she referred to Robbie’s ex as “… a skanky whore.”

Bill Coyne aced the role of Glen Guglia, a Wall Street broker who, like Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone’s 1987 film Wall Street, believes “Greed is Good.” Glen made his philosophy about what matters in life plain and clear when he belted out the tune “All About the Green.” The line in that song, “But if you sell your soul, at least you’ve made a sale,” sums up this shallow, sleazy, and unscrupulous character who hawks junk bonds and shamelessly engages in insider trading. Glen Guglia lives for impressing others, driving a flashy car, splurging on cocaine, and dining in high-end restaurants while dressed for success in his expensive tailored suits and power ties. He is the “King of Conspicuous Consumption,” gobbling up the latest high-tech gadgets like CD players and cellular phones.    

Joseph Frederick Allen was excellent as gender-fluid George, a character based on the performer Boy George. With his intense facial expressions, expressive body language, and stellar vocals, Mr. Allen was a scene-stealer. His rendition of “George’s Prayer” was spot-on, funny, and one of the show’s highlights.

Kelly MacMillan gave a showstopping performance as Linda, Robbie’s vampy ex. She put her powerhouse vocals and athletic dance moves to good use during “Let Me Come Home,” a racy, high-energy number that was her desperate attempt to win Robbie back.

Katie Lamark gave a memorable performance as Holly, the sexy, fun-loving waitress with a heart of gold. I loved her crimped hair, micro-mini spandex skirts worn with fish nets, and leg warmers. As Sammy, Holly’s love interest, Hunter Brown proved to be a charismatic performer and a triple threat with his outstanding singing, dancing, and acting skills.

A special shoutout goes to all the incredibly talented Las Vegas impersonators strutting their stuff during the White House Wedding Chapel Scene. The ensemble of superstars included Shannon Conboy, Erin Fish, Ashley Klinger, Sarah Lindsey, Mikaela Rada, Renee Marie Titus, Matthew Blum, Peyton Cassity, Jose Contreras, Anthony DaSilva, George P. Roberts, and David Tanciar. Swings include Kimberly Hudman and Steven Gagliano.

The Wedding Singer is brilliantly directed and choreographed by veteran director Keith Andrews. The superb choreography was reminiscent of the riveting dance numbers performed in Flashdance and Michael Jackson’s blockbuster music video Thriller. 

If you love the 80s and enjoy a good night at the theater, drop everything and get your tickets to the Gateway’s lush and lavish production of The Wedding Singer. The show runs until February 26. For more information, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133, or visit the website at: Https://TheGateway.org.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of Grant Me a Higher Love, Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships, and Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic. Her short play, No Rest of a Soul, is in the Think Fast Theater Project Festival.    www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.