Members of the Shiplake Community were wowed by the Whole College Production of The Wedding Singer: The Musical before the half-term break in the Kenton Theatre, Henley. It was fantastic to see 78 cast members from Years 7 to 13 give it everything in this wonderful romantic comedy.
The show took place across two nights – Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 February – with a matinée performance for local primary and prep schools on the Wednesday morning.
The overarching theme of love rings through every scene and number and those who love ‘love’ will love the characters who strive for it in the story. The characters teach us that everyone deserves love and that it is out there for everyone, whether that be from family, friends or relationships. The imperfect characters personify the challenges of unrequited love, explore compatibility and ultimately show us that everyone is deserving of love no matter who you are. They of course do it in a highly entertaining and hilarious manner, but the message is there all the same.
Throughout the performances, the audience members were treated to fantastic vocals and slick acting, and it was clear to see just how much work had been put into the production from all members of the cast and crew.
Year 13 Drama Scholar, Alec Veitch, said:
The hilarious directing allows for the scenes to delight in their awkwardness and for the audience to relish in the character building that eventually brings about the love affair between the two main characters.
Noah Scotchbrook and Darcey Knight both gave convincing and enthralling performances as the love-struck pair of Robbie and Julia, while Layla Nicholas, James Lucking, Wilf Jennings and Will Nicholas helped to tie the performance together with their notable characters giving not just hilarious performances, but also incredibly believable and engrossing stories. A particular mention must be given to William Griffith, whose representation of Robbie’s less than traditional grandmother, Rosie, had the audience roaring with laughter throughout.
It is of course not a spoiler to say that Linda’s heartbreak breakup song at the start was enthralling and funny, with the vocal talent of Poppy Parsons helping to not just add effect to the emotional damage that Robbie suffers, but also gave it a light comedic tone highlighting how this play manages to juggle the near impossible feat of both comedy and quick character development.
My personal favourite moments include the song ‘Single’ where Robbie is seemingly convinced by the medley of drunks and his band to forget about love altogether, only to then fall even more in love with Julia. I also enjoyed the song ‘It’s All about the Green’ with its hilarious one-liners.
Overall, it was a huge success for the College’s performers, and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!’
Head of Drama, Mrs Farrell, added:
‘Our talented cast and crew have poured their hearts and souls into this production, working tirelessly to recreate the magic of the original Broadway show to demonstrate their love of performing, each other and the world of theatre. We added our own flair and passion to make this rendition a unique and unforgettable experience both for the audience and all of those involved in bringing it to life.
The rehearsal process for the Wedding Singer was one of the most enjoyable and seamless I have experienced in my time at Shiplake. This is down to the incredible talent and commitment of the cast and the time and skills dedicated by the staff involved, not forgetting the best backstage crew we have ever had! Working in the historic Kenton Theatre always lifts the quality of the performance and I know the cast gain a lot from working in such a professional environment. We create these opportunities so that the cast members from every year group create meaningful friendships and amazing memories for life and I know that in this we succeeded with the Wedding Singer.
Please enjoy the highlights video and full photo gallery below.
