Customer Reviews

The Wedding Singer (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As far as musical comedy scores go, "The Wedding Singer" is the best since "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." It's instantly tuneful, witty, and more enjoyable than I really expected it to be. Firmly grounded in the pop styles of the 80's, writers Matthew Sklar (music) and Chad Beguelin (lyrics) have a lot of fun both mocking and honoring the decade (the obligatory synthesizer corniness recalls last year's "Altar Boyz"). They've done a good job crafting a score that works theatrically in its own right, and not just as a string of parodies. The cast-- which includes Tony-nominee Stephen Lynch, Laura Benanti, and Amy Spanger-- is solid, and they bring great vocals and energy to the score's numerous catchy songs (highlights include "It's Your Wedding Day," "Casualty of Love," "Not That Kind of Thing," and "If I Told You"). I suppose how much you like it might depend on your predilection for all things 80's, but this is one of the most downright likable of recent cast recordings. (Listen, too, for what has got to be an intentional shout-out to another 80's themed musical, "Taboo.")

Based on the classic film starring Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore, "The Wedding Singer" is a light romantic comedy set in a world of 80s-filled nostalgia. The musical never takes itself too seriously, but instead brings back many memories of that decade's pop culture.

Led by Stephen Lynch & Laura Bananti, the cast sounds great, but the songs are a mixed bag - most terrific, some not so much. Overall, this is an enjoyable, fun cd and worth the purchase (especially, if you can catch the show), but the score's unlikely to stand the test of time for theatre lovers.

Best Tracks:

It's Your Wedding Day
Someday
Casualty Of Love
Saturday Night In The City
If I Told You
Let Me Come Home

Though I am loath to say something nice about a real-life Broadway score by a composer younger than I, the fact is there's lots of nice things to say about this. Any old fool can plug in a Casiotone with its built-in bass lines and say, "here's some 80's music for you." Ingenious Jewish composer Matthew Sklar, however, has honed in keenly on the decade's frenetic rhythms and gotten them to support the kind of tidily jagged, halting melodies that defined pop music for us Gen-Xers back in the day. These compositions well evoke the decade's exuberance ("Someday When It's Me," "Not That Kind of Thing," "Right In Front of Your Eyes") and hard-rock intensity ("Let Me Come Home," "Casualty of Love"). Two exceptionally well-crafted pieces ("It's Your Wedding Day" and "If I Told You") stand as fine rock-n-roll songs on their own, without the costumery of period-parody. The spot-on ode to bachelorhood, "Single," is tough to categorize, but anyhow it's great fun.)

Lyricist Chad Beguelin repeatedly proves as apt at skewering the decade's culture as Sklar is at capturing its sound. Even the mere rhythm and tempo of "Saturday Night in the City" conveys the era's legendary night-club indulgence, and Beguelin shines a laser-sharp light on frenzied consumerism. "All About the Green" is the send-up of unchecked greed that DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS' "Great Big Stuff" number tries and fails to be. "Pop!" has young girls more awash in Maybelline, minty-fresh-and-Zestfully-clean than Madison Avenue could have dreamed.

This score's essential strength is that it doesn't try to be any more than it can (a lesson hard-learned by the MISS SAIGON people but which didn't stop BROOKLYN, LITTLE WOMEN, and LENNON from staining the Great White Way in a manner that begs a Sklar/Beguelin ode to Mop-n-Glo). One of my fellow reviewers blasted this CD for being "not art, it's corporate greed." News flash: Broadway musicals have ALWAYS been a for-profit business. Moreover, if corporate greed were the wellspring of this work, they'd have picked source material more bankable than a mediocre eight-year-old popcorn movie and they wouldn't have hired a songwriting team whose two previous works didn't even make it to Broadway. There are reasons why this one did: it promises only entertainment and massively delivers. At Amazon's prices, this is a bargain-bin full of fun, 80's memories, and great tunes.

The past few seasons Broadway has been flooded with stage adaptations of popular movies: THE PRODUCERS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE LION KING, and now comes THE WEDDING SINGER from the hit Adam Sandler film. Boasting a lively score by newcomers Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, the show has been struggling at the box-office thanks to mixed reviews and being shut out at the Tony awards. The cast album gets off to a great start with "It's your wedding day" and there are several other numbers along the way that do what good show tunes should do: develop the plot and detail the characters. Stars Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti play well off each other, even if not every song is pure gold. Even if THE WEDDING SINGER fails on Broadway it will probably have a long and healthy life in regional and community theatres. The booklet contains a detailed synopsis and all the lyrics as well as quite a few pictures from the show.

At first I was disappointed that the musical of the Wedding Singer wouldn't feature the 80s songs that made the movie so much fun, but when I heard the score, I realized that what the writers have done is so much better. The score effortlessly quotes the musical trends and themes from the era, (references range from Joan Jett to New Edition) and pulls of the tricky feat of seeming instantly familiar yet wholly original. The lyrics are often laugh-out -loud hilarious and, when the story calls for it, simple and sincere--often adroitly switching gears mid-line. ("Dumpster" is a perfect example) The songwriting team walks a tightrope- the soundtrack is an ironic send up of an era and also a musical love story that has you rooting for the characters the whole way. And it's catchy- you'll have "It's Your Wedding Day" in your head for days- and that's not a bad thing!

I had the pleasure of seeing this show and fell inlove with it immediately. If you're looking for a show with fun music, the Wedding Singer is for you. The cast is incredibly talented, and the music is very catchy. I definitely recommend this album.

Some favorite tracks include:

It's Your Wedding Day
Saturday Night in the City
Pop!
Let Me Come Home
Not That Kind of Thing

The music from "The Wedding Singer" is playful and frisky and leaves you feeling lighter than air....like you were filled with helium and floating like a balloon on a warm summers day. From the first note to the last note of the 22 musical numbers-here at last is a musical score one can unashamedly call frothy and fizzy and shiny like a newly minted penny and is deliriously catchy and contagious and what's wrong with going to the theatre and having a good time? And what's wrong with listening to a Broadway cast album that leaves a smile from ear to ear? Not a thing...and for those who enjoy bright music, bright lyrics, and a bright and energetic cast of entertainers this is the one wedding you should attend.

Saw the show on June 21st and it is loud, boisterous, clever,hilarious and a lot of fun. The chemistry between Stephen Lynch as Robbie Hart and Laura Benanti as Julia is so palpable you almost start to believe they are actually a young couple falling in love. Another highlight is the amazing amount of inventive choreography in the show featuring a sly nod and wink to the "Zombie Dance" from Michael Jacksons' video of "Thriller" during "Casualty of Love". The show also has a rare commodity often missing in a big, brassy Broadway musical...it has heart and a pretty big one.

If you can't see the show the music is all there on the CD.

Went to see it because my daughter is a total Constantine fan, not expecting to like it. I'm more a 60's early 70's person, however I liked it alot. I found I cared lot more for these characters than those in Mama Mia. The female lead is an exquisite singer,The Grandma steals the show, The male lead and the "Boy George" character were fantastic, and Constantine was Great. His endearing, goofy portrait of Sammy, a sharp contrast to his serious, hardworking off stage personna. Dozens and dozens of people waited for a glimpse of him at the stage door. He did not disappoint.He talk and signed autographs for each and every fan. He'll be gone after Dec. 3rd and the show closes end of December. Go see it if you possibly can. If not, get this cd, the music is really infectious. You'll love it.

When the movie came out, I honestly didn't care for it much. The musical, however, has definatly made it to my favorites list. The music is entertaining and captivating. A funny, fresh musical that will renew your faith in Broadway, and keep you singing and smiling.

Shame it won no Tony awards, but that just goes to show how screwed up they are. It is a beautiful recording and kudos to all who star in the production. My personal favorite is the song "Right In Front of Your Eyes" with the wonderful Amy Spanger (of Reefer Madness!).