Review . . .
'Wedding Singer' sings at Timber Lake.
By Sue Langenberg
Show number three, "The Wedding Singer" opens this Thursday at Timber Lake Playhouse. The summer stock theatre is on a roll now as it
moves through a fast-paced summer season with energy and talent abounding.
"Wedding Singer" is a roaring musical in two acts, thick with songs and always bursting with lyrics, unexpected and otherwise. It might also
be accused of being "a cast of thousands" with its increased ensemble that includes 51 performers and some 27 staff support people to get it up and
running. Artistic director Brad Lyons masterfully holds it all together.
The increased ensemble includes a mighty support cast of much area youth. From Mt. Carroll are enthusiastic performers Melissa Fitzpatrick,
Ashley Torres, Michael Strauch, Kyler and Kolton Dimmick and Scott Swanson. Youths from Sterling are Morgan and Kallie Zuidema and Cate Payan.
The Groezinger family of Hanover is represented by Katherine and Tori. Pearl City lends its talent with Kassidy Stephen and Lauren Sheffey. Look
for Shannonite Gentry Lessman, Cody Sturtevant of Thompson, Levi Skoog of Chadwick, Allison Palmer of Milledgeville and Jordan Hirl of Clinton, Iowa.
Grownup extras are Kathleen Brinkmeier from Pearl City, Rebecca Petrovic of Polo, Rich Hall of Mt. Carroll and frequent TLPer Eugene
Dymkowski of Clinton, Iowa.
New Yorker James Beaudry is again on hand to choreograph the steps and lead the actors, singers and dancers through the paces of the '80s style of
the musical. It was the early days of MTV and ground-breaking waves of rock video at the time of this show. So Beaudry happened to be doing in
depth research for weeks prior to rehearsals on the dance styles, including the electric and iconic, cool dude moves of Michael Jackson.
"It's almost eerie," he says, "I hadn't thought about [Michael Jackson] for years until this show," and explained how he suddenly got up close
and personal with "Thriller," including "Billie Jean" and others to study the signature moves of the iconic rock star. "And then he was suddenly gone,"
he reflects.
The story that interweaves between singing and dancing centers around a lovelorn wedding singer who was a jilted groom at his own altar. So
burned by this, he makes up his mind that since he is miserable, then everyone should be, including all the weddings thereafter. And thus, he dubbed
himself forever a casualty of love.
But then he falls in love again. She is already engaged to a handsome, but shallow money grubber. Love nevertheless ensues.
What could have been a sappy storyline turns wonderfully ingenious thanks to original creators including writers Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlithy,
and composers Matthew Sklar and Adam Sandler. The result is a rousing and cynical reminder of how blind love is and how we can all relate to the
emotional ups and downs that seem to bloom or bust at weddings.
Lead role of lovelorn Robbie is played by TLP performer Kyle Szen, a tall drink of water whose tender voice and strong presence takes his emotion
all over the stage with ease. Meredith Jones as love interest Julia is well cast as innocent with her lovely voice. Fiancé Glen Guglia is well played by
Carl Hendin, appropriately handsome with an arrogant and insensitive feel for the part. Other notables include Jessica Dyer whose good voice jilted Robbie
at the altar, grandmother role playedby Iowan Sarah Ruden and Sainty Reed as anyone with her open and cheery face.
A special note goes to TLPer David Herr in the ensemble whose extraordinary talent and versatile feel for comic facial and body language will
be something to watch. Check him out as the worthless, drunken brother in an early wedding.
Roaring musical "The Wedding Singer" opens Thursday at Timber Lake Playhouse and runs 11 performances including three matinees through
July 12. (No shows on Monday or the 4th of July). Sunday matinees and Wednesday July 8 are at 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m.,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 5 at 6:30 p.m. The Mt. Carroll boonies are a hop, skip and a jump to 8215 Black Oak Road.
Also check out the theme dinner package across the road from the theatre at Timber Lake Resort. Call the box office at (815) 244-2035
or www.timberlakeplayouse.org for tickets, group rates and more information.
