BY ANGELA HATCHER: Whether you are a fan of the Adam Sandler\/Drew Barrymore smash hit, a throwback from the ‘80s, or a passionate devotee of “totally” vivacious and high spirited entertainment, One More Productions’ “The Wedding Singer”<\/em> is one of the most fun musicals ever to grace The Gem Theatre’s luminous stage, and fans are loving it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BY ANGELA HATCHER: Whether you are a fan of the Adam Sandler\/Drew Barrymore smash hit, a throwback from the ‘80s, or a passionate devotee of “totally” vivacious and high spirited entertainment, One More Productions’ “The Wedding Singer”<\/em> is one of the most fun musicals ever to grace The Gem Theatre’s luminous stage, and fans are loving it.<\/p>\n OMP’s seasoned production team, Jon Hyrkas, lighting designer, Larry Watts, costume designer, and Wally Huntoon, set designer, has transformed the Gem’s intimate space into an implausibly vivid, multicolored rock ‘n roll club vibe making the show’s ambiance a star in its own right – and that’s just for starters.<\/p>\n Kicking it off with choreography so complex that it took four choreographers to find the perfect balance between the synchronicity of the sets, lighting, musical cues, and costuming, Choreographers Shauna Bradford, Heather Smith, Alan Collins, and Katie Marshall send the high-voltage ensemble soaring through retro moves that has the audience practically jumping out of their seats.<\/p>\n The romantic comedy is a frivolous delight about love and never pretends to be anything other than a fun ride.<\/p>\n Talented Edgar Andrew Torrens portrays Robbie Hart, the New Jersey rocker “wannabe” and lead singer of his band who, along with his fellow musicians, George (Peter Crisafulli) and Sammy (Tim Miller), has made a name for himself as a popular wedding singer.<\/p>\n Ironically, Robbie gets jilted by his trashy fiancée, Linda (Brianna Garmon), and Robbie finds himself down in the dumps (literally!) until the sweet, but newly-engaged waitress, Julia (Hannah Clair) comes along.<\/p>\n Torrens and Clair are very strong leads, and the individual cast members all give stunning performances, but it is Holly (Nicole Cassesso, producer) who adds the funny in funny bone.<\/p>\n As a gorgeous material girl look-a-like, Cassesso’s bubble gum popping Holly steals the limelight from the talented ensemble, and Holly’s lead into “Saturday Night in the City” and “Right in Front of Your Eyes” duet with Sammy (Miller) tops the charts.<\/p>\n Bad boy and Wall Street mogul Glen Guglia (Lawrence Havelka) struts his stuff in a polyester suit kind-of-way that smells of dirty rat no matter how he wears it, and Havelka digs into his character with sheer abandon.<\/p>\n Potty-mouthed Grandma Rosie (Shannon Page) has a few surprising tricks up her sleeve. “Single,” featuring Sammy and an all-male ensemble, is a song and dance dream. Robbie and Julia’s “If I Told You” is another great number.<\/p>\n Director\/Musical Director Damien Lorton has composed an energetic, fast-moving extravaganza that explodes on the stage like a July fireworks show seen for the first time. Under Lorton’s baton, the band drives the ‘80’s-style music while keeping a nice balance with the cast.<\/p>\n Not that long ago, One More Productions began as nothing more than a dream for Damien Lorton and Nicole Cassesso and their idea has grown into one of the top community theaters around.<\/p>\n With comfortable seating, fine entertainment, beer and wine beverages, and a variety of goodies at the Gem’s snack shack, The Gem Theatre on Historic Main Street makes for a real gem of a theater experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “The Wedding Singer”<\/p>\n