‘The Wedding Singer’ brings the 80s to the 20s at Millbrook
PHOTO PROVIDED From left are Cameron Clements as Holly, Emir Garcia as Sammy, Jack Flynn as George, Michael Mousaw as Robbie Hart, and Rubi Natal as Julia Sullivan.
The set looks like a confection, a bon bon, lit with luscious, creamy pinks and purples. Pink streamers fan off into the nearest seats, and paper wedding bells decorate the ceiling. Love is surely in the air as Millbrook’s musical comedy “The Wedding Singer” invites us into the year 1985 with a whirlwind romance whose colors, moods, and unexpected textures create an exuberant, kaleidoscopic performance that will leave you applauding all of love’s myriad complexities — as well as its tender rewards.
The story begins with an irony. Robbie, the wedding singer, whose job is to celebrate marital bliss, is miserable. He’s been left at the altar by his fiance, and all music has suddenly left his life. He sinks into a bleak depression and becomes cynical, calling himself “a casuality of love.” But the play itself, where the music never stops, has other ideas. Robbie has indeed temporarily lost his way. The 80’s with its bitter attractions and material enticements calls out to him like a siren song. But the promise of finding his soulmate never fades. The music is always uplifting, the pace always lively, the downside always savingly funny. And surrounded by his bandmates, his friends, and his irrepressible grandma (all singing and dancing their hearts out), he finds his way back to his own music — and forward into life’s true love.
The 80s timeframe allows the play to comment briefly on the era’s expanding corporate world and its materialistic values (the corporate money scene is appropriately lit in a sickening green), but it also provides endless opportunities for humor. Robbie’s wacky grandma buys him a bed for his wedding, one that she’s purchased — cheap — from Motel 6. (It needed disinfecting, but — with the help of a quarter — it delivers a terrific massage.) A scene set in Las Vegas toward the end of the play allows members of the ensemble to take on several notable (fake) personas, including Cher, Tina Turner, Billy Idol, Cindy Lauper, and Ronald Reagan, who comes replete with dyed black hair (did he or didn’t he?) and a cache of jelly beans. And there are many other hilarious moments. The audience, on the night I attended the play, cheered and laughed the entire time.
The production, once again, lives up to Millbrook’s highest standards. The ensemble work is beautifully choreographed and executed, the multiple costumes works of creative ingenuity, and the lighting both enhancing and provocative.
And the cast, as we have come to expect, is stellar. Both Michael Mousaw and Rubi Natal, as Robbie and Julia, the central couple, bring an endearing warmth to their roles. Emir Garcia is feisty and down-to-earth in his role as Robbie’s band member and trusted sidekick, bringing the same high energy to this role as he brought to Rooster Hannigan in Annie. Jack Flynn, the third band member, adds a sensuous touch and emotional nuance. Cameron Clements as Holly is bold and bright, showing her versatility by delivering a performance completely different from her more quietly elegant role in Annie. Taylor Elliot as Glen, the (basically good-hearted) villain, is unapologetically brash and self-serving. Michele Long is brilliant in her role as Robbie’s grandma, Rosie, adding not only humor but also an undying, can-do spirit to the production. And finally, it’s such a pleasure to see Ricky Kessler, Rachel Kern, and Adam Fox return to the main stage after their performances in Annie, each one, with a change in costume, taking on a new, entirely different and entirely convincing persona.
“The Wedding Singer” is, like, totally epic!
So get your tickets now. And while you’re at it, dig deep in your closet and get out those old tights, tees and tutus! Prizes will be given out nightly for the best, most retro 80s looks. The show runs on Millbrook’s main stage through July 19th.
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Karen Elias lives in Swissdale. She taught English for more than 30 years, most recently at Lock Haven University and Penn College.



