Published: June 30, 2009 09:57 am      

‘Wedding Singer’ set at Timber Lake

MOUNT CARROLL, Ill — Show number three, “The Wedding Singer” opens this Thursday at Timber Lake Playhouse.

The summer stock theater is on a roll now as it moves through a fast-paced summer season in which energy and talent abound.

“Wedding Singer” is a roaring musical in two acts, thick with songs and always bursting with lyrics, unexpected and otherwise. It might also be accused of being a cast of thousands with its increased ensemble that includes 51 performers and some 27 staff support people to get it up and running. Artistic director Brad Lyons masterfully holds it all together.

Local youth Jordan Hirl joins the ensemble as well as frequent TLPer Eugene Dymkowski.

New Yorker James Beaudry is again on hand to choreograph the steps and lead the actors, singers and dancers through the paces of the 1980s style of the musical. It was the early days of MTV and ground-breaking waves of rock video at the time of this show. So Beaudry happened to be doing indepth research for weeks prior to rehearsals on the dance styles, including the electric and iconic moves of Michael Jackson.

“It’s almost eerie,” he says, “I hadn’t thought about (Michael Jackson) for years until this show,” and explained how he suddenly got up close and personal with “Thriller,” including “Billie Jean” and others to study the signature moves of the iconic rock star.

”And then he was gone,” he reflects.

The story that interweaves between singing and dancing centers around a lovelorn wedding singer who was a jilted groom at his own altar. So burned by this, he makes up his mind that since he is miserable, then everyone should be, including all the weddings thereafter. And thus, he dubbed himself forever a casualty of love.

But then he falls in love again. She is already engaged to a handsome, but shallow money grubber. Love nevertheless ensues.

What could have been a sappy storyline turns wonderfully ingenious thanks to original creators including writers Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, and composers Matthew Sklar and Adam Sandler.

The result is a rousing and cynical reminder of how blind love is and how we can all relate to the emotional ups and downs that seem to bloom or bust at weddings.

Lead role of lovelorn Robbie is played by TLP performer Kyle Szen, a tall drink of water whose tender voice and strong presence take his emotion all over the stage with ease. Meredith Jones as love interest Julia is well cast as innocent with her lovely voice.

“The Wedding Singer” opens Thursday at Timber Lake Playhouse and runs 11 performances including three matinees through July 12. (No shows on Monday or the 4th of July). Sunday matinees and Wednesday, July 8, are at 2 p.m.; Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday shows at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 5, at 6:30 p.m. The theater is located at 8215 Black Oak Road. Call the box office at (815) 244-2035 or www.timberlakeplayhouse.org for tickets and group rates.