Show that helped launch nostalgia for all things 1980s
THE Wedding Singer is a much-loved 1998 film which has helped spawn a lot of 1980s inspired music nostalgia over the years.
And it has also spawned a lot of slushy romantic comedy films about marriage - the type of films that men get dragged to by their better halves whether they want to go or not.
It is hard to imagine the film is nearly 20 years old, and that even back then nostalgia for 1980s music had already begun.
Although often imitated, the film has never really been bettered.
The two lead characters Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler were perfect in their lead roles and the music, and jokes, flowed from start to end.
As with many much-loved films, it was then turned into a stage musical with a lot of success. And it was performed at the Curve Theatre in Leicester last week during its tour of Britain.
The story is a good one for the stage and the characters and scenes are easy to translate. The jokes also come along for the ride with some new ones added in.
The main difference here is the music which is an 1980s inspired original score. The film features songs by Culture Club, The Buggles, Musical Youth and Billy Idol among many others. Thankfully, the “new” music delivers.
The songs blend in perfectly with the story and help to bring out the emotion and comedy of the moment.
For those who don’t know, the story revolves around Robbie Hart who is the lead singer of a wedding band. He is friendly with a waitress called Julia who works at the social events.
Both are due to marry other people. But, as always happens, it is not meant to be and they realise they are made for each other.
Perhaps this film is why no screen wedding ever goes smoothly in soap operas and other shows.
Anyway, the two leads in this, Jon Robbyns and Cassie Compton, are very strong and deliver excellent performances.
In all good stories and musicals, the leads don’t get all the best songs and lines. And this is the case here as they are backed up by a very strong cast including Ray Quinn as Glen who was due to marry Julia.
Perhaps the star of the show is Ruth Madoc as Grandma Rosie who steals every scene she is in.
This is a fab night of 1980s inspired music, dance and comedy.