The Wedding Singer

The Alhambra

WHEN you make your living crooning corny songs to newlyweds, it helps if you're a hopeless romantic at heart.

And Robbie Hart, failed rock star-turned wedding singer, is just that.

Robbie is happy enough singing with his band, Simply Wed - until he gets jilted at the altar and turns from being the life and soul of the party into a bitter wreck, determined to make every wedding day as miserable as his own.

Of course it's only a matter of time before he hooks up with chirpy waitress Julia, who lends him a shoulder to cry on when his heart is broken, but this being a fairly formulaic romantic comedy, there are a few bumps in the road first.

Based on the movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer is set in 1985 New Jersey (when "hair was huge and greed was good" says the promotional blurb) and a checklist of Eighties references includes rolled-up jacket sleeves, a meringue wedding dress, haunting synths, fishnet leggings and a Flock of Seagulls haircut.

The storyline is thinner than fax paper (the Eighties just keep on giving) but since nobody in the audience has any expectations of this being highbrow, it doesn't really matter. The retro appeal is entertaining enough.

There's just something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. It may be that, despite having been around for about a decade, this is a show that offers no recognisable music. "It's the musical that promises to get you up dancing faster than your dad at a wedding", says the blurb, yet I counted on one hand the number of people on their feet by the end.

That's no fault of the performers though. A talented cast was headed by charismatic Jon Robyns, who was a delight as Robbie. And Ray Quinn's fabulous performance as Julia's Wall Street shark fiance, Glen Gulia, reminded me why he's one of our best all-round performers. To call Ray a triple threat would be something of an understatement - he dances like a dream, is a consistently strong singer, and a gifted actor. His impressive All About the Green routine, a homage to making money, was a highlight of the show.

Great performances too from Samuel Holmes and Ashley Emerson as Robbie's bandmates George and Sammy.

The female roles are flimsy, particularly Julia who appears to be little more than a dull girl with no aspiration other than to get married. Cassie Compton did her best with the role, but it's a poor part.

Tara Verloop packed a punch as feisty Holly and Ruth Madoc had us chuckling as Robbie's colourful gran, Rosie.

A fun slice of Eighties nostalgia - especially for those of us who remember it all first time round.

Runs until Saturday.