There's a lot to like about the latest offering from Blue Mountains Musical Society.
From it's full-on, taffeta-laden, neon-coloured opening number, to its schmaltzy and satisfying final song, The Wedding Singer delivers on its promise to take you back to the '80s - and remind you why it's an era we simply can't let go.
Based on the very successful Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie of the same name, The Wedding Singer tells the well-known tale of love won, lost and found again in a fast-paced bright and breezy manner that doesn't bother too much with details or depth.
The catchy tunes and energetic dance numbers are delivered by a cast that is having a great time - and wants you to join in the fun.
The singing is wonderful - we've come to expect nothing less from this talented troupe - and the choreography is top notch.
Lead actors Chris Sparrow as Robbie, the wanna-be rock star in love with love, and Hayley Cascarino as Julia, the waitress with a heart of gold, embrace their roles with enthusiasm.
Their great voices are given plenty of opportunities to shine, particularly in the harmony pieces If I Told You and Grow Old With You.
Julia's cousin Holly is played by Tonieka Del Rosario as a would-be Madonna, with lots of heart and a killer voice, especially in the numbers Saturday Night In The City and Right In Front of your Eyes.
Chris' band mates Sammy (played by Tim Moody) and George (James Matheson) channel Van Halen and Boy George respectively, playing for laughs, of which there are plenty.
And there's more. An ex-girlfriend with evil intentions, an ambitious cheating fiance with no heart, and a rapping grandma with moves and attitude.
The show certainly mines the rich culture that was the '80s. There's puffy sleeves, big hair, tight leather pants, a giant mobile phone and references to Flashdance, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Billy Idol, Olivia Newton-John, Imelda Marcos, Ronald Reagan and more.
With a score that pays loving homage to the pop songs of the 1980s, The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just have been the coolest guy in the room.
As Molly Meldrum would have said back then "do yourself a favour" and see the show: bedazzled denim jackets and boob tubes optional.
- The Wedding Singer by Blue Mountains Musical Society is playing at the Blue Mountains Theatre, 106-108 Macquarie Road, Springwood until Sunday, June 2. For performance times, ticket prices and booking details go to: www.bmms.org.au.
