The delightful musical “Head Over Heels” produced by Park Playhouse recently closed after an extremely successful run. It drew large crowds and won unanimous praise from the critics.
If you missed it, don’t fret. Thursday, August 4, a truly pleasant musical, “The Wedding Singer” will be performed at the Washington Park Stage in Albany. As usual, most of the seats are free.
“The Wedding Singer” is a frothy musical comedy that is best known for the 1985 film that starred Adam Sandler. In fact, during a recent telephone interview, Chuck Krause, who is directing the show, says he is constantly surprised at how few people realize the film was adapted for the stage.
Perhaps being a bit prejudiced, he feels the stage version is more fun. It’s his opinion that a live production makes it easier for an audience to suspend belief at the childish behavior of some of the characters and their attitudes about love.
The storyline for “the Wedding Singer” revolves about two couples who are in love with the wrong partners. They believe if they change themselves and give up their dreams everything will be all right.
Ashley Simone Kirchner, the director of education for the Playhouse Stage Academy and Associate Artistic Director for Park Playhouse - as well as the choreographer for the show, added her opinion. She proposes that this show, which is being performed by students of the Playhouse Stage Academy, can be more reality-based than the film.
Her reasoning is that the leads will be played by trained performers who are 17- and 18-years-old. She tells of people who have seen the show played by actors in their 30s and 40s. The general feel is that older actors playing young people can be a negative. “It’s harder to laugh at a mature person failing to acknowledge the obvious,” she says.
Krause elaborated, saying that their youthful cast is not playing the situation as puppy love. He says a foundation of their training is to find the honesty of the characters and the truth of the moment.
“The characters may be broad, but they will be real," he said. "My feeling is the audiences will relate to them as young characters who are learning to make good choices.”
Both mentors found delight in the theme of finding yourself as being the same as it was in “Head Over Heels.” “It’s about discovery of self,” says Kirchner, adding that both have an “80s vibe.”
“That’s always fun,” she adds.
The pair also referred to “Head Over Heels” to illustrate the talent in “The Wedding Singer.” They proudly point out that about half the performers in the first show trained at the Academy and a few current students also participated in that show. Indeed, one student is in both shows.
Kirchner expressed pride in how the public respects the work of student performers. She says the recognizing of their talent has been building over the years, but she believes last year’s production of “Matilda” put them on the map.
She raves about the great crowds and how people loved the quality of the work and the talent of the performers. She adds having several student productions at Cohoes Music Hall during the winter has added to their reputation.
As a bonus, each expressed admiration for the score of the show. “It’s sneaky excellent,” says Kirchner, as she wonders why several songs didn’t break out as popular hits. She insists that the score includes a couple of songs that had someone like Madonna recorded them, they would be classics.
Krause also praised the work of musical director Brandon Jones. He says Jones not only finds the musicality of the score, he is able to have the performers relate to the story-telling in each song. “It’s ideal storytelling,” he says.
Kirchner closes the interview saying, “The show will be well performed and sung. Best of all, it offers a message about the value of discovering who you are and being true to that person.”
“The Wedding Singer” plays at Washington Park in Albany 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, August 4-20. For reserved seats call 518-434-0776 or go to playhousestage.org.
Bob Goepfert is theater reviewer for the Troy Record.
The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.
