OAKBOOK, Ill.—If you long for the nostalgia of the good old days, you'll love “Father of the Bride,” playing at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook, Illinois. The revival brings back all the warmth, gentleness, and virtues of yesteryear America.
The play is based on a novel written in 1949 by Edward Streeter. It was fashioned into two popular films. The first is the 1950 movie starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. A second came along in 1991, starring Steve Martin. While the plot is basically the same for both movies, there are differences. The earlier version is like a sweet 1950s TV sitcom while the second has a more modern, hectic pace.
A Familiar Plot
The story unfolds as the father, Stanley Banks, appears shocked when his beloved 21-year old daughter glibly announces that she’s going to marry her boyfriend Buckley Dunstan. Dad can’t believe that his giggling little girl is all grown up. He tries to keep his concern under wraps, but can’t help share his worries with his wife, Ellie, and sons Ben and Tommy.
Stanley’s daughter says she wants a simple ceremony but has a long list of people she wants to invite. Then, she wants a gorgeous dress. The expense and hassle begin to add up.
Even though Stanley is anxious about his daughter’s ideas, the wedding plans continue until Stanley is overwhelmed by the cost and details. Preparations for the couple’s nuptials soon spin so out of control that it looks as though the wedding will be canceled.
Lauren Nichols’s scenic design is a large house that fills the stage. Costume designer Emily Rebholz’s tailored suits for men and pleated skirts for women have the quaint look of earlier days. In addition, Curtis Moore composed some choice original music that sound designer Sarah Ramos amplifies to suggest the blissful atmosphere of the Eisenhower era.
As in most comedies, we end up loving the characters. Here, the actors demonstrate wonderful split-second timing and delightful comedic slapstick. Joe Dempsey is superb as Stanley Banks. He’s hilarious, yet engages us with great empathy as he goes on a rollercoaster of emotions, moving from refusal to confusion and eventually to calm acceptance. Like “Father Knows Best,” he’s the one who solves the problems and holds everything together.
As his daughter, Kay, Aurora Penepacker delivers a terrific portrayal of a young woman coming-of-age. She’s infatuated with romance and her new fiancé. Rachel Sullivan plays Kay’s mother, Ellie, with the strength and nurturing that described moms of the era.
Buckley Dunstan’s Jake DiMaggio Lopez is compelling—a groom whose confusion leads to some very humorous moments. Furthermore, Kyle Ringley as Kay’s older brother, Ben, and Charlie Long as her younger brother, Tommy, contribute added laughs to the family predicament.
Other supporting roles include Maya Hlava as Peggy, Ben’s hoot of a fiancée; Michele Vazaquez as Miss Bellamy, Stanley’s practical secretary; Mitchell J. Fain as Joe, the foreman in charge of setting up the wedding reception; and Ed Kross as the perfectionist wedding planner Mr. Missoula.
“Father of the Bride” will touch the heartstrings of adults who remember the golden-era of good-natured entertainment, as well as those preparing for their children’s weddings. This is a heartwarming show that will transport you to a time of love, laughter, and family. Indeed, it was the best of times.
