Review: A high-voltage ‘Wedding Singer’ comes to Garden Grove’s Gem Theatre

Ensemble excellence — critical in any musical theater show — becomes particularly evident in “The Wedding Singer,” the latest offering from One More Productions at Garden Grove’s Gem Theatre.

Behind its simple romantic plot, also quite nicely interpreted by director-musical director Damien Lorton, is a panoply of dance movements so complex they required four choreographers to create.

These fleet-footed background performers lend enormous support to the romantic comedy involving a wedding singer and a waitress, each engaged to others at their initial encounter, who somehow discover each other.

They also discover the musical decade of the 1980s, the era which produced the movie on which the stage version is based. The ’80s references abound in the Gem production, even sparking a “best ’80s outfit” contest for audience members on opening night.

The title role of Robbie Hart is taken at the Gem by Edgar Andrew Torrens, a multi-talented performer who revs up this vintage story line with his energy and enthusiasm. His dramatic skills surface in his plaintive solo “Somebody Kill Me.”

The waitress, Julia, who’s uncertain about her impending marriage and gravitates toward Robbie, is beautifully enacted by Hannah Clair, who pours out her hopes and dreams in her number “Someday.” Clair and Torrens combine their musical and comedic talents in the duet “Come Out of the Dumpster.”

Nicole Cassesso, the show’s producer and the company’s executive director, takes a wild turn on stage as the hot-to-trot Holly, who vainly pursues Robbie and headlines a terrific first-act closing number, “Saturday Night in the City.”

Julia’s erstwhile fiance, impishly christened Glen Guglia, gets a cool, mercenary interpretation from Lawrence Havelka. The waitress invokes shudders when she imagines herself as “Julia Guglia.”

Robbie’s backup musicians are enthusiastically rendered by Tim Miller and Peter Crisafulli, the latter leaving no doubt that he prefers his vice versa.

Brianna Garmon has some fine comic moments as Robbie’s former fiancee, while Shannon Page and Claire Perry have some fun with older characterizations.

Wally Huntoon’s wide-open setting allows plenty of room for the complicated choreography fashioned by Shauna Bradford, Heather Smith, Alan Collins and stage manager Katie Marshall. These four enrich the overall effect with their swift and smoothly executed movements.

Jon Hyrkas’ flashy lighting design electrifies the show, but too frequently illuminates the audience as well, thus producing the opposite of the intended reaction. Larry Watts’ costumes hold true to the period of three decades past.

“The Wedding Singer” is an upbeat example of a bygone era of musical theater, rich in interpretation and energy in this robust revival at the Gem Theater.

If You Go

What: “The Wedding Singer”

When: Till July 23; 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 and 8 p.m. Sundays

Where: Gem Theater, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove

Cost: $40

Information: (714) 741-9550, ext. 221 or visit onemoreproductions.com

TOM TITUS reviews local theater.