Bittersweet journey: Say ‘I do’ to Drury Lane’s ‘Father of the Bride’
“Father of the Bride” — 3.5 stars
Two hours of gags and meltdowns in “Father of the Bride” comes down to that one moment when dad Stanley Banks (Joe Dempsey) and his just-wedded daughter Kay (Aurora Penepacker) exchange a look.
Everything is changing, and the wordless chemistry between the two is a lovely and poignant coda to the bouncy comedy playing at Drury Lane Theatre though May 31.
How does someone evolve from a little girl with scraped knees to an independent woman who casually announces her betrothal at breakfast, Banks wonders.
And how is he going to pay for the “little wedding” that’s turning into a money pit?
A solid cast answers those questions, led by Dempsey, who provides both the avuncular steadiness of Stanley and his slapstick, distraught side, delivering lines like: “I am ruined!” with punch.
Penepacker plays Kay with a giddy sweetness that matures and has a nice rapport with fiance Buckley Dunstan (Jake DiMaggio Lopez), who alternates between ardent lover and harassed future husband.
The character of Stanley’s wife, Ellie, could be a caricature, but Rachel Sullivan pulls off a very likable rendition. The entire Banks clan is believable as a family unit and has a tight comic timing that shines in depictions of a wedding present relay and a cut-throat battle to narrow the guest list.
Smaller character roles also enrich the narrative.
Caterer Mr. Missoula (Ed Kross) provides a fabulous injection of comic hauteur, wincing as he scales back his plans for ice sculptures to fit the Banks’ budget — only screaming into a pillow, once.
As youngest son Tommy Banks, (Charlie Long) has a no-filter spunk that avoids cuteness. Maya Hlava has just a few scenes, but stands out as over-the-top girlfriend Peggy Swift of oldest son Ben Banks (Kyle Ringley).
“Father of the Bride” started out as a novel by Edward Streeter that’s reminiscent of James Thurber’s wry takes on American life, then became a 1950 blockbuster movie starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor.
A popular, contemporary remake featuring Steve Martin debuted in 1991, but director Michael Heitzman returns this version to the suburban 1950s.
The set is a vintage charmer, from the pastel living room to the retro trays Kay is continually gifted with. Costumes also are a loving tribute to the 1950s, right down to the pillbox hats.
Heitzman writes that the play is about “the quiet recalibration that happens when someone who once orbited around you begins to build a life of their own.”
It starts when your kindergartner squares their shoulders and marches into school on the first day and doesn’t stop.
But there’s a grace to Stanley’s letting go and Kay’s growing up that permeates Drury Lane’s “Father of the Bride.”
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Location: Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-0111, drurylanetheatre.com
Showtimes: Various times and dates through May 31
Tickets: $65-$125
Running time: 2 hours, with a 20-minute intermission
Rating: Family-friendly