Review: The Wedding Singer

The 1998 film comedy has been successfully adapted for the stage with new songs that are faithful to both the electro-rock sounds of the era and musical theatre traditions.

Cast member Nadia Komazec gets her Flashdance moment as Holly in The Wedding Singer musical at Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

ALL the over-the-top fluorescent colour, pop music magic and outlandish dance moves of the 1980s come vividly bursting back to life in the stage musical adaptation of The Wedding Singer.

Screenwriter Tim Herlihy has successfully adapted his hit 1998 film comedy with new songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin that are faithful to both the electro-rock sounds of the era and musical theatre traditions.

Don’t worry – original song titles and lyrics from classic ’80s hits are still constantly and shamelessly referenced for laughs in the pun-laden dialogue and lyrics, and most of the new tunes are “in the style of” familiar artists.

Christian Charisiou, centre front, leads the cast in the title role of The Wedding Singer musical media at Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

It also references other iconic films from the decade, including Wall Street for its “greed is good” number All About The Green, and Tom Cruise’s bartender moves from Cocktail.

Christian Charisiou and Teagan Wouters do a fine job stepping into the roles of dumped wedding singer Robbie Hart and unhappily engaged waitress Julia Sullivan – despite a few wobbly notes by the latter in their big duet.

However, the big scene-stealer is Adelaide actor Nadia Komazec as Julia’s best friend Holly, a Madonna wanna-be who has all of the Material Girl’s routines, expressions, vocals and attitudes nailed to perfection. She even gets her own Flashdance moment.

Christian Charisiou, centre, rocks out with bandmates Haydan Hawkins, left, and Ed Deganos, right, in The Wedding Singer musical. Picture: Tom Huntley

Close behind is Kirby Burgess as Robbie’s hard-rocking ex-fiancee Linda, who busts phenomenal bedroom moves while belting out Heart and Pat Benatar style songs.

Meanwhile, Bon Jovi and Boy George inspire Robbie’s bandmates, played for laughs by Haydan Hawkins and Ed Deganos.

It all takes place beneath a neon-lit city skyline and ends with a hilarious cavalcade of “fake” celebrities who need to be seen to be believed.

The Wedding Singer

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide

April 9 to 24

Book at BASS or weddingsingermusical.com.au