The Wedding Singer

WAAPA’s Second Year Music Theatre celebrated their public debut with a celebration of all things 1980s, in this big hair and flouncy frocked production of The Wedding Singer. The production was designed and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design Students. 

Designed by Ruby Trevor-Mills, the set is centered around the function centre where love interests Robbie Hart and Julia Sullivan work - complete with wedding cake style stage - with other locations laid over this set. The costuming is bright and decidedly ‘80s, and the hair is big. Luke Smith gives us a colourful and snazzy lighting design, while Jessie Nalder’s sound design balances the top-quality live band led by Musical Director Vanitha Hart and voices to perfection.

]Title character, wedding singer Robbie Hart was played with charm and energy by Will Johnstone, in a superb anchoring performance that won hearts in the audience as well as on stage. Girl-next-door love interest Julia was played with beautiful voice and energy by Jessie O’Connor. 

]In the way of true love are alternative love interests, with Robbie’s fiancé Linda given a bad attitude and verve by Abby Dickson, and Julia’s fiancé Glen played with rich-boy confidence and a sneer by Oliver Miskovich.

Robbie’s besties and band mates are gorgeously characterised, with Conor Haigh lovely as Sammy and Harry Ortoso campy and funny as Boy George clone George. Charlotte Allen was delightful as free-living Holly.

Stealing scenes and singing beautifully was Romy Devlin, an audience favourite as cheeky Grandma Rosie.

]A strong ensemble created a plethora of quirky cameos, sang with style and executed Jayne Smeulders’ fun and creative choreography with panache.

A show that deservedly played to packed houses and left its audience feeling great. A cohort with great promise. 

Kimberley Shaw

Photos by Stephen Heath