Bristol Musical Theatre have produced a show they had been hoping to perform over two years ago but due to COVID had to put on hold.
However, the wait has been well worth it, as the production could not be faulted for enthusiasm, choreography, colour, sense of humour and orchestration.
As soon as Mason Somerville, playing Robbie Hart, bounced on stage at the Redgrave Theatre last night, The Wedding Singer was off to a high energy, high impact start.
The cast of 35 people, ranging from 21 to 89 years of age, wowed the packed audience with their high octane and high jinx performances. Steph Ammerlaan as Julia was completely believable as the easy-going girlfriend of city slicker Glenn played by Dominic Ammerlaan.
Scott Allen as George, rigged out in a matador, come Pirates of the Caribbean, come Boy George costume, exuded personality and charm and his contagious sense of humour permeated the whole show.
Rosie, played by Kate Craig, and Linda, played by Chloe Shiner, exhibited the star quality that would have graced any professional theatre. Their solo performances were both dramatic and empathetic. Siani Medlock and Steve Downing showed their colours, providing back-up for the main characters despite Steve sporting the most outrageous mullet.
Although difficult to pick out highlights, the slow-motion effect produced by the cast when the bride’s bouquet was being thrown was extremely effective, as was the dance routine to Casualty of Love, during which the cast performed a similar routine to that in Thriller by Michael Jackson.
The 1980s were convincingly conveyed by bobby socks, shell suits, denim jackets and mullet hair styles, detail enough to capture a moment in time that to a lot of the audience may not have seemed that long ago.
Director Alex Turasiewicz, musical director Andy Allpass as well as choreographer Mandie Love are to be congratulated on the exciting, fast-moving and energetic show that brought laughter and joy to a much needed live drama-starved public.
This production of The Wedding Singer is being entered in the Rose Bowl Awards for 2021/22 and I can only wish them well.
The show runs until Saturday (30th April). Tickets are available at www.bmtgetswed.com
Christine Rogers
