Review: Wacky Wonderful WEDDING SINGER Entertains at St Dunstan's thru Oct 31

If you are looking for a wonderful pick me up musical to see this fall, you will love THE WEDDING SINGER now on stage at St. Dunstan's Theatre in Bloomfield Hills. This hilarious, wonderful romantic comedy is the surprise hit of the seaon. It's filled with great tunes, great singers and costumes that range from wacky to tacky. See the fake Elvis with the fake bulge in his britches, a white Mr. T, and an army of characters that will brighten your mood.

This hilarious pop-rock musical about breakups and makeups will lift your spirits and transport you back to the 1980s! Based on the hit Adam Sandler film of the same name, it's too good to miss!

Robbie Hart, played fabulously by Gannon Styles is a wedding singer who is super adorable. He is the epitome of shlemazel, a kind of Charlie Brown grown up and living in the 80s. We know Hart has a wonderful heart, but he always seems to have bad luck. Styles has a remarkable voice and you will love every song he sings. His love interest is Julia Sullivan, played radiantly by Randi Hamilton. She sings magnificently and looks gorgeous to top it off. One of her songs to Hart, "Come out of the dumpster" is stupendous. The incidents that caused Hart to land in the dumpster in the first place are uproarious. Julia is engaged to Glenn Guglia, played phenomenally by Chris Steinmayer. Steinmayer is usually a strawberry blond with a beard and glasses, so when you see him on stage with black hair and a shaven face, you won't realize it is him at first. Glenn is the bad guy, and Steinmayer doesn't usually play the bad guy, so when the light turns on in your brain who is playing Glenn you will be amazed.

Bridget Leary makes an astonishing Holly, the cousin of Julia. OMG can she sing! And she's as hot as a firecracker. Another hottie is Deb Dworkin as the naughty Linda. It's amazing how this play gives opportunities for so many people to get their 15 minutes of stardom. There are so many solos and star moments in the musical.

Earlier this year, Jude Purcell played the role of a dignified, erudite Victorian gentleman. In this show, he plays a kind of village idiot. How in the world does he pull that off? The answer is talent!

Part of the storyline involves the characters played by Gannon Styles (Hart) and Bridget Leary (Holly) trying to forge a relationship, albeit unsuccessfully. Ironically, the two stars are engaged to each other in real life.

We loved Jeff Foust as George, who is a Boy George type character in this production. He is so hilarious. When he teams up with Grandma, the pair are a hoot!

This show can lift your spirits like no other can. Come depressed - this experience is better than Prozac!

PG-13. Contains adult language and humor.

Directed by Kathleen Lietz
Asst. Direction by Laurane Walker
Musical Direction by Debbie Tederick
Choreographed by Roberta Campion
Produced by Mairo Towle

Starring:
Julia Sullivan: Randi Hamilton
Robbie Hart: Gannon Styles
Glenn Guglia: Chris Steinmayer
Holly: Bridget Leary
Linda: Deb Dworkin
Sammy: Jude Purcell
George: Jeff Foust
Rosie: Sandy Prokopp
Angie: Patricia Leary

Ensemble:
Jamie Altman
Michelle Ankoviak
Katie Kezelian
Mike Kezelian
Steven Melling
Stephanie Peltier
Sarah Seely
Angela Tomaszycki
Nat Towle
Craig VanKempen

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