Published On Tue May 04 2010

Erika Peck, left, and Matthew Campbell star in the Stage West production of The Wedding Singer.

By Richard Ouzounian Theatre Critic

The Wedding Singer

(out of 4)

By Chad Beguelin, Matthew Sklar and Tim Herlihy. Directed and choreographed by Tim French. Until July 4 at Stage West, 5400 Dixie Rd. 905-238-0042

Some marriages are clearly made in heaven and a prime example is the production of The Wedding Singer now playing at Stage West.

Not only is it the perfect kind of show for the dinner-theatre venue, but it’s being presented in a bouncy, breezy, bright production that makes everyone connected with it look good.

It’s based, of course, on the popular 1998 film starring Adam Sandler, about a dweeby guy named Robbie who sings at other people’s weddings while striking out constantly in his own romantic life.

The musical version sticks pretty close to the original, and although most critics scorned it when it opened on Broadway in 2006, I found it a delight. It still remains one of my favourite musical theatre guilty pleasures, with a tuneful score that frequently features laugh-out-loud lyrics.

Director/choreographer Tim French serves notice in his opening number, “It’s Your Wedding Day” that this show is going to be a lot of fun. His dancers, dressed in their 1985 best, gyrate through an aerobic series of dance moves that start the show with a bang.

Matthew Campbell, as the hapless Robbie, wisely doesn’t channel Adam Sandler, but offers us someone touching and real, with a great singing voice. Could he be a bit funnier on occasion? Maybe, but his sincerity is still a great selling point.

Likewise, Erica Peck has no intention of playing the Drew Barrymore card, but offers us her own Jersey Girl, eyes wide open, heart on sleeve, voice belting at the top of her range.

It’s actually the best performance Peck has given to date, far superior to her work in We Will Rock You and The Boys in the Photograph. It clearly marks her as a major musical theatre talent to watch.

There’s wonderfully wacky support from Kraig Waye and Andrew McGillivray as Campbell’s band members, an endearing comic turn from Karen Wood as his grandmother and a sleaze-tastic performance from Kristen Peace as his trampy ex-fiancée.

A couple of the other roles, however, aren’t played quite as well as they should be, with Rachel Fischer’s party girl, Holly, lacking a certain sparkle and Sean Andrews’s Wall Street shark, Glen, not being the superslick dude everyone keeps describing.

But praise should be given to the hard-working ensemble who keep changing in and out of Dennis Horn’s wonderfully tacky ’80s costumes with incredible speed and dancing in every excessive move of the period that French puts them through.

Musical director Anthony Bastianon leads a five-piece ensemble that gets the musical grooves down perfectly and Bryan Pasic’s sound design allows you to hear every lyric.

The Wedding Singer isn’t perfect, but then, how many marriages are? This one certainly has better odds of surviving than most and if you’ve never seen the show or been to Stage West, this is a perfect chance to remedy both those omissions in one visit.

• Dominik Kurek, OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF

The Wedding Singer has big shoes to fill

The Wedding Singer has big shoes to fill. READY FOR REVENGE: Matthew Campbell will star in The Wedding Singer at Stage West. Submitted photo

An Oakville born musician and actor is taking on Adam Sandler’s role in a theatrical musical remake of a 1998 hit film of the same name.

Matt Campbell will play the lead role at the Mississauga-based Stage West’s comedic production of The Wedding Singer, which opens April 22.

Just as Sandler did in the romantic comedy film, so will Campbell play Robbie Hart, a lively wedding singer who’s fiancée leaves him.

After his heartbreak, the character goes on to ruin the weddings he’s hired to sing at.

“I grew up with the comedy of Adam Sandler and I’ve always enjoyed his work so it’s a thrill to be able to play this part,” the 29-year-old said.

He understands, however, that there will be people who compare him to Sandler.

“As long as they compare me well, it’s only a compliment,” he said.

“He’s great and I definitely know there’s some shoes to fill, but if I approach it with honesty, hopefully that will come through. And really it’s a story about the heart finding where it belongs.”

The musical follows the same story as the movie.

There are some changes to make it more theatrical and a few songs were added, but all the songs that appear in the film are also in the stage production.

The musical version was first staged on Broadway in 2006.

Campbell, who now lives in Toronto, is a singer/songwriter himself who has produced a self-titled album.

The Sheridan College music theatre program graduate sings and plays guitar and piano.

Considering his own music career, Campbell sees the similarities between himself the character he will play.

According to Campbell, the character is this late 20s guy who wants to be a rock star, but comes to the reality that not everyone can be.

“Can you still find things with music in your life that make you happy even though you’re not playing for 15,000 people?” he asked.

“That part definitely relates.”

Campbell has worked with Stage West before, including both of its productions of The British Invasion, and has had numerous other on-stage roles.

Of the current production he said, “One of the fun things about the show is it really focuses a lot on the 80s, which was obviously a very interesting time for fashion and music. Either people love music from the 80s or they absolutely despise it.”

He added, “It was the first time the public was able to buy a synthesizer keyboard and as a result of that everyone produced crazy music that was either good or some of it incredibly bad.”

The show will feature music styles that range from 80s rock to dance.

Costume and set designs will reflect 1985 styles, which is the time the show is set in.

Stage West is a theatre and hotel located at  5400 Dixie Rd. (at Hwy. 401) in Mississauga.

All shows include dinner.

Tickets range in price from $45.99 to $79.99 depending on the day and time of the show. The production runs until July.

For tickets, times and dress code information, visit www.stagewest.com.