the wedding singer on broadway...

here's a review of The Wedding Singer from last spring...

Where's the party?
Not at Broadway's "Wedding Singer"
By Gary Chattman

"The Wedding Singer" was a big hit for Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
in 1998. The 80s-themed comedy, which featured classic tunes like Billy
Idol's "White Wedding"and The Police's "Every Little Thing She Does is
Magic," succeeded on the two stars' chemistry, witty one-liners, and an
enjoyably lightweight story. Sadly, the Broadway incarnation, which
opened two weeks ago, fails to inspire anyone to "party like it's 1985."
Stephen Lynch, taking over the Sandler role, plays Robbie Hart, a
wedding singer who's left at the altar by fiance Linda (the
show-stopping Felicia Finley) and is befriended by Julia Sullivan
(Laura Benanti), a woman who longs for true love but settles for Wall
Street suit Glenn Guglia (Richard H. Blake). As the two become closer,
it becomes apparent they're destined for each other.
The reason the show doesn't work is because the two leads lack warmth
and the charisma of Sandler and Barrymore. While the duo have their
moments, other cast members fair better, notably Amy Spanger as Julia's
best friend Holly and Rita Gardner, a stand out as Rosie, Robbie's
grandmother.
And, while the show means well, it suffers from music ( by Matthew
Sklar and Chad Beguelin) that, sans one song "Come Out of the
Dumpster," lacks melody. The book, by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, also
lacks the panache of the latter's film script. Another problem is they
overkill every '80s reference in the book. All-in-all, one comment from
a theatregoer in the lobby, after the show, sums up "The Wedding
Singer" on Broadway: "it's enjoyable, but the movie was better."

-30-