REVIEW: Sleepless: A Musical Romance at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

Based on the original screenplay ‘Sleepless in Seattle, a film I have not seen (don’t come for me), this musical adaptation just doesn’t work. We have no need for it in our modern-day society. This may be an ok story to switch on in an evening whilst cooking dinner but as a theatrical experience in 2020, it just doesn’t do anything for us. The romance of the story is lost completely in the production and it doesn’t allow us to escape from our reality enough to forgive that. 

Michael Burdette (Book Writer), Robert Scott (Composer) and Brendan Cull (Lyrics) are the creative team behind the piece, unfortunately, this particular show just doesn’t click into place. The comedy and romance is missed and the music just doesn’t do what we need it to do.  

This show doesn’t have a style, it’s not sure if it’s in the modern era of music with a pop theme, if it’s a more classical musical theatre sound or a Sondheim feel in the score. It's confusing and unfortunately none of it is memorable. Most shows have at least one or two numbers that are staples and you remember walking out of the theatre but this one doesn’t have that, the songs just all mix together into one.  

REVIEW: The Wedding Singer at the Wembley Park Theatre

Based on the 1998 hit movie, The Wedding Singer settles down for a couple of weeks in Troubadours Wembley Park Theatre. The Theatre, which was only founded in 2018, is the new building on the theatre scene. It is located in the former Fountain Studios, which housed shows such as The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. My first trip to this space and I very impressed, the front of house space creates a more sociable and relaxing environment. The actual auditorium was closer to a cinema layout for this show rather than a theatre; the seats were comfy with drink holders in the seats in front and everybody had enough space. For someone who visits theatres regularly this was a strange but very welcomed change. Also, the staff were friendly and enforced the welcoming and relaxing atmosphere of the space. 

But unfortunately the wonderful venue can’t save this show. 

Robbie (Kevin Clifton), a Wedding Singer, gets dumped by his Fiancée (Erin Bell) on his Wedding Day and has to climb back to normality where he realises the love of his life has right in front of him all along. But she’s engaged to someone else. He flies to Vegas to stop the marriage and everyone lives happily every after. Sounds thrilling, right?