Reviews

There are a lot of things to be impressed about when you see Sunnybank Theatre Group’s production of The Wedding Singer. The first notable positive is the substantial size of the ensemble cast including an eight-person-strong live band. Everyone on stage (and one can also assume offstage in the band pit) has enthusiasm and a cheerfully infectious joy. The cast are well-rehearsed, never appearing to miss a line or a beat. The show also benefits from great choreography by Jacquie Cullen to support the plentiful songs throughout.

Livvy and Pete celebrates the songs of two of Australia’s most iconic singing exports, in a fun and vibrant show that has the audience thoroughly involved.

Performers Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan have excellent chemistry, have a gorgeously laconic and self-deprecating delivery and have an obvious passion for Olivia Newton John and Peter Allen. They both sing superbly and have charm in bucket-loads. 

Bars have long been central to gay life. In communities that were hidden for many years, they were often the only place to meet friends or a partner. But they’re much less pivotal than they were: in today’s world, where same-sex marriage is legal, and gay men meet online, the need for a gathering place based around sexuality has much diminished.

So has the community that went with it.

The language was ripe! No topic off limits! And the coarseness of everyday life was front and foremost!

Michael Sutton has recreated the bar of yesteryear with everything (so I’m told) that made the hub of the suburbs such a necessary part of life.

The Barmaids: Kate McNair – Nancy and Tara Page – Val, are both Gold Coast Area Palm Award winners for their leading actress performances in past shows.

These two “beer pullers” are the entire cast; except for some “dumb” pub patrons and some unsuspecting audience members.