Review: The Wedding Singer, Bradford Alhambra

With the musical set in 1985, you might expect the songs in the show to be ones you know. If you go along expecting to hear songs from that era, you might be disappointed. If you are looking for a funny, uplifting experience then rest assured you will be in for a good time.

I must admit, I have never seen the film version, so I had no idea what to expect or no memory of a cherished film to be tarnished.

This is the era of the Rubix cube, shoulder pads, mobile phones that looked like a brick and a keyboard player in the wedding band (Simply Wed) that looks like he has been styled by Boy George. It can't be incidental that the pianist is called George! Samuel Holmes played a very believable character, never too camp but with just a hint of cheekiness.

Jon Robyns plays wannabe pop star Robbie Hart - New Jersey's favourite Wedding Singer. When his own fiancé dumps him at the altar he tries to make every wedding as disastrous as his own.

It is left to cute Julia (Cassie Compton) and her best friend Holly (Tara Verloop) to lure Robbie back into the limelight and out of the dumper.

Former X Factor star Ray Quinn is superb as bad boy and womaniser Glen Gulia and along with Jon Robyns the two are equal leads in the musical - it would be lost without them. Ashley Emerson is convincing as bass player Sammy, though I thought they had tried to make him look like The Edge from U2!

The songs are memorable and one in particular from the first half, Casualty of Love is heavily inspired by the Joan Jett hit, I Love Rock n Roll.



I thought that the first half never really took off, it wasn't until the second half where things really picked up. The opening dance scene is very risqué, play close attention if you see the show and you will see what I mean. The song they dance to entitled All About the Green and the track is a huge number.

Ruth Madoc, who many will recall from Hi De High, shines as Robbie's grandma, Rosie. She even has a go at rapping and has the moves too that are even better than Honey G! Her duet with George where they rap as a duo had me in stitches.

In the first half she is under utilised but threatens to steal the show in the second half.

An energetic, funny and lively night out.

Runs until Saturday 29 April 2017
Telephone: 01274 432000
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk