Review: Audiences Say 'I Do!' to NCT's THE WEDDING SINGER

There rarely comes a musical that everyone truly can have nothing bad to say about - one that is saturated with a myriad of different emotions conveyed one minute through upbeat, somewhat goofy songs and the next in a somber ballad between two characters in the midst of falling in love. Especially when it is as beautifully performed by Brooklyn's own Narrows Community Theater, The Wedding Singer is truly so intricate and beautiful in its design, but is so simply a feel-good phenomenon that all should experience.

There is really a bit of everything to be found in its plot: there are poignant times when the audience yearns to help Julia escape from her engagement to Glen, while more exciting ones when all in the audience are compelled to rise to their feet and dance along to the love emanating from the stage. Director and Choreographer Michael Chase Gosselin brings his brilliant vision of this musical to a Brooklyn audience, and I say that it is awesome with as much confidence and conviction as when Wedding Singer Robbie Hart uses that same word to describe what it feels like to be in love with his fiancé, Linda. As he is overcome with feelings of love and joy at the mention of her name, so too will the audience be smitten by all the wonderfully talented actors in NCT's production who bring this story to life in a way never seen before.

Based on the 1998 movie of the same name, The Wedding Singer features mostly original music (with a few songs taken from the movie) whose repertoire it becomes so difficult to get out of your head; the songs are incredibly catchy and fun. Gosselin, who also managed to choreograph and teach each number in this musical to a cast of twenty-six, truly brings out the raw feelings of each song by what he makes each actor do on stage, while also keeping that character's image and personality in tact while doing such antics as crawling on the floor in "Casualty of Love" or doing quite a few variations of the running man during "It's Your Wedding Day," the show's epic opening number.

There is so much action upon that stage that the audience can do nothing but succumb to what Gosselin presents before them: an epic, riveting reenactment of the 1980's complete with spastic dancing (and the occasional backflip), big hair to complement the perfect outfits worn by each character (kudos to Costumer Angela Borst!) and most importantly, heartbreaking moments followed by joyous, wacky celebration that will leave anyone watching with a big smile plastered on his or her face.

With an on-stage band with rockin' musicians led by Musical Director Paolo C. Perez, there is nothing "little" about this show. Everything that Gosselin has envisioned and compiled, from the beyond talented cast to the set (credit must be given to Pamela Pagaro for her work on this) and the innumerable lighting cues which help illuminate everything and everyone upon that stage, comes together to create a production that, on a scale of one through ten, can be described as at least an eleven. The quality of this show surpasses anything Narrows Community Theater has even done before, and therefore can easily be hailed as one of NCT's greatest productions.

What would any show be without its immensely gifted cast? This musical demands a versatile cast that can be quirky and fun wedding guests in one number, only to transform themselves into the creepy mutants at Table 9; don't be surprised if you even happen to see Billy Idol or Tina Turner walk across the stage without warning. Without the right cast, this show cannot possibly reach its potential, but fortunately Gosselin has found a group that has gone above and beyond to understand and portray their characters to the fullest extent. This is no easy task, considering how certain actors have quite a few shoes to fill!

Max Baudisch as Robbie Hart and Kristin Antonelle as Julia Sullivan are stellar in their performances as the show's leads who perpetually refuse to admit their feelings for one another. The chemistry which both actors have together is amazing; it is truly like they are one in the same person, and the connection is extremely evident and beneficial to further their characters' growing affection for one another. And boy can they sing! Antonelle's beautiful light soprano tone mixed with Baudisch's impressive ability to reach those high tenor notes (and belt them, too) is simply gorgeous to behold when put together.

Dalles Wilie and Josh Vidal, who make up the duo of George and Sammy to complete the sensation known as Simply Wed, are just as perfect. They use their eclectic range of talents (which include some great trumpet solos and aerobic stunts) to easily make them two of the musical's favorite and most lovable characters. Devon Frieder as Julia's cousin Holly, Brian Kilday as Julia's fiancé Glen and Amanda Szymczak as the infamous Linda are no less brilliant. Frieder has such a powerful belt and a beautiful voice, while Kilday plays his part as the douchey, carefree and money hungry vulture of Wall Street a little too well; there's really no stopping him once he steps foot on stage. Szymczak's performance is raw and raunchy and just as Linda ought to be depicted; she makes anyone wonder how a person so different from Robbie could ever have gotten engaged to him. Dawn Barry Hansen as Rosie, Robbie's grandma with a bit of a wild streak in her, gives the show some of its most comical moments. She suckers audiences in with her docile nature and concern for Robbie's well-being and then has them laughing when she reveals a bit too much about her sexual endeavors and later lets loose with her famous rap about 'rock[ing] microphones." She does all that and more in this performance!

All of these beautiful actors put together, along with a brilliant creative team and tech crew, make this show one that, if you live anywhere in the NYC area, you do not want to miss.

The Wedding Singer begins and ends with this line being said, and there is no truer statement: as Robbie exclaims, "Love is what I do." As the show concludes, that stereotypical warm feeling one might have stirring within after a touching performance is exactly what happens as the curtain closes on such an epic story of people who fall in and out of love - of people who fundamentally get what they deserve in the end. Again, it is a feel good musical, and all of that joy and sadness that are felt by each character at some point during the show culminate to create a palpable sense of love in each person who leaves that theater. It's like that tingly feeling you get when you know that something beautiful and meaningful has just happened, and you were there to experience it; watching this show from beginning to end and witnessing what Gosselin has dedicated himself to wholeheartedly will give you such a sensation. The Wedding Singer is love in its greatest, truest form, and NCT should be proud of what magic is happening on its stage.

The Wedding Singer has already had one successful weekend of performances, and will be around for three more! The remaining performances will be held on May 8th and 9th at 8:00, with a matinee on May 10th @ 2:00. All performances are at the Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater, located at 403 General Lee Avenue; it is a bit of a walk from the R station at 95th Street, so just allot a bit of extra time if not driving. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students under 21. For tickets, call 718-482-3173 or visit www.narrowscommunitytheater.com. Government-issued ID is required to admission to the base.

Enjoy the show!

Photo Credit: Annapurna Sinha

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