Anyone who's seen Steve Martin in the movie version of "Father of the Bride" may think there's nothing else to be seen in the stage version of the play by the same name.
However, the Hale Center/ Orem version offers up a wedding cakewalk that has all kinds of interesting and amusing tidbits that entertain and amuse.The younger brother shadowboxing behind his father Stanley Banks as he tries gamely to deal with the thought of marrying off his only daughter to "a pair of shoulders," is only one such addition.
Ben Ellis, who plays Tommy Banks, gets far enough into his role that he's a real addition to a cast already made up of fun and dry wit.
Sheldon Worthington is the father. He's only a tad uneven in his performance, sometimes a good deal more relaxed and comfortable in his role than at others, particularly in the second act.
As he tries not to sit down and split his outgrown tuxedo, he's a real card. And when he's outlining exactly what a wedding represents in terms of signboards to his son-in-law-to-be Buckley, he shines.
He's just a little stiff in the beginning.
Mary Kay Peirce, playing Mrs. Banks, is wonderfully at ease throughout. She's every bit the part of the sophisticated and tolerant mother just trying to keep peace in her family unbalanced by wedding plans that get traditionally out of control.
A wonderful centerpiece for this play, Kay Banks, played by Nannette Watts, is a face alive with interesting emotions and curiosity. She has a great smile and rapport with her father, her fiance and her brothers.
Buckley Dunston, played by Kevin Castle, is also good.
But a standout performance comes from the caterer Mr. Massoula and Joe, his circulation manager.
Massoula, played by Peter Brown, is highly comic. Joe, played by Ben Allen, taking on the task of trying to get Stanley Banks to quit shutting down the tent crew so he can answer phones, is just plain funny in unexpected areas.
Maureen Eastwood, playing the role of Miss Bellamy, called in to organize the ever-changing card files for the guest list, is also outstanding. Her soliloquy as she quits because she "cannot work in the middle of a civil war" is a choice bit.
Costuming, as is the standard at HCT/O, is carefully handled. The wardrobe is all nicely in period with the story and always fun to look at.
The set works well for the story except for an annoying chair cushion that insists on falling over every time Mr. Banks arises. The feeling is of a very nice home that is completely set aside to make way for the reception preparations.
Old-fashioned ditties set the mood as the play begins. Sound and lighting is so well done as to be taken for granted.
"Father of the Bride" is pleasant, amusing and serves to remind us all of the silly and real reasons we all get into these kind of social bugaboos.
- ALL HCT/O productions are double-cast. This review is of the Monday/Friday cast, with the exception of Nannette Watts.