The Wedding Singer, book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, starts us off with a big grin and the lively energy of a wedding party with jukes and joops and doodoops. It's all lots of fun -- a new Grease that works because all the elements come together with a great sense of humor and endless creativity. The magical quickly-transforming set by Scott Pask, lighting by Brian MacDevitt and super costumes by Gregory Gale fulfill the vision. This show has more funny, clever songs than I've seen in one show in a long time. It's not often you run into a song like "Come Out of the Dumpster." There are no plot surprises, but so what? It's all about entertainment, and that it is.
The cast, as masterfully put together by John Rando, is terrific -- the people in the show actually look like people, and the fact that some of the leads are just a tad older than their characters doesn't matter. I loved Laura Benanti as the ingenue, Amy Spanger and Felicia Finley are great Hot Blondes, and Rita Gardner's Gramdma Rosie is a turn that will win her lots of nominations and probably awards. Leading man Stephen Lynch, antagonist, the handsome Richard H. Blake, and all of the rest of the cast, some in multiple roles are Broadway pros who come through as such. Choreography by Rob Ashford is humorous, inventive, and at times takes us a step beyond into absurd. It's all festive, joyful fun.
