Do you wanna talk about a smarmy man' One that could make a womans skin crawl if he sidled up to her and opened his mouth.
Well¦ meet Arthur P. Snodgrass, successfully played by Brian Michael Vigorito, as the editor of the Weekly Bugle. You gotta see him to love him, and then you want to run¦ not walk away, run¦
in this original production of "Here Comes the Bride"now playing at Pines Dinner Theatre in Allentown.
The Weekly Bugle needs a shot in the arm and the staff is injected by the likes of Abigail Winthrope, a reporter wanna be, engagingly played by Annie Locke, who beguiles the wiles of Snodgrass, when she come looking for a job.
Since she is all desire, but without substance, she convinces Snodgrass that she could be a relationship advice columnist.
Why not' She has never had a boyfriend in her life!
And so, the column Here Comes the Bride is born.
This is the premise of this original musical "Here Comes the Bride," book and lyrics by Oliver Blatt, and music by both Blatt and Stacy Bechtel.
Luckily, our Ms Winthrope is wise to the guise of Snodgrass and turns for guidance to thrice married Margaret Jonesy Jones, the lead reporter of The Weekly Bugle played with major sarcasm by Gwen Swanson Vigorito. Jonesys long history working and avoiding Snodgrass makes her the perfect go between!
Joining the employees at The Weekly Bugle is the nerdy classified editor, Howie Norwood, played convincingly by Shawn Patrick Fletcher.
Fletcher, becomes interested in Winthorpe, although in tried and true theatre, doesnt think he has a chance. His "Whats in a Name" solo is one of the highlights of the play.
The last of the employees is typesetter Harry Barnes, perfectly played by Jerry Brucker.
Barnes, has also never been married, as long as you dont count his long time love, Betsy, his iron maiden printer.
Barnes has had a gentle crush on Jonsey for years, and finally decides to act on it.
Brucker is the glue that keeps this cast together; his facial expressions, mannerisms and vocal delivery of the song, "The Only Way to Stay Afloat, made me smile.
Of course, the advice column gets very few letters, and with most of them written by Howie, its not long until Snodgrass figures it out, fires Howie and demotes Abigail to Classified Editor.
But alls well that ends well in this original musical production.
The 15 musical numbers seemed a little much, and the plot is very light, but the cast gives their all in this performance by Allentowns only professional theatre company.
I need to give major kudos to Stacey Bechtel for her enthusiastic and well played one woman band!
The costumes, by Stacey Yoder were very appropriate to the 1970s.
"Here Comes the Bride" runs Thursday to Sunday thru March 9 at Pines Dinner Theatre, 448 N. 17th St. Allentown PA 18103.
Every show comes with a full service meal before the performance.
For reservations call 610.433.2333 or go to their pinesdinnertheatre.com for show times.