Mamma Mia! You'll never have this much fun in a theater again!
Written: Aug 21 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amazingly talented cast. More fun than you can imagine.
Cons: This isn't my real life.
The Bottom Line: Go. Now.
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| levda's Full Review: Mamma Mia! |
What is it about ABBA? Why do we adore them so? We may never know, but at least we now have one more venue for our adoration: the newest addition to the Broadway scene, MAMMA MIA!
For some reason, Chicago has become the new testing ground for Broadway-bound musicals. In recent memory, Aida, The Producers, and Mamma Mia have thrilled audiences here before moving onto the “big time”. Sometimes they take their casts, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes big changes are made, sometimes everything is kept in tact. Mamma Mia did originate in London, but I still got to see it before you Broadway folk did.
How, you may ask, can a musical about ABBA be anything but cheesy? Well, first of all, it’s not a musical about ABBA, per se. It’s a musical with a heartwarming story that just so happens to have ABBA as the soundtrack.
The story
Donna Sheridan has raised her daughter Sophie alone on a Greek Island where she’s opened a hotel. Sophie is about to be married and wants a big white wedding with all the traditions, including a father to walk her down the aisle. Unfortunately, Donna never told Sophie who her father is, and Sophie has no leads… until she finds Donna’s diary from the summer that Sophie was conceived.
Sophie learns that while Donna was part of a crazy girl group, she had affairs with three different men- and any one of them could be her dad! Well, what’s a girl to do? Sophie invites all three men to her wedding in hopes that she’ll be able to figure out who Dad is before the wedding!
The musical begins in the days before Sophie’s wedding, as guests begin arriving on the island. We’re then taken on a fun ride as Sophie tries to learn the identity of her dad, Donna reunites with her girl group buddies and deals with lost love, and the audience is treated to 22 ABBA songs as the backdrop.
The music
22 ABBA songs? How is that possible? Honestly, I had my doubts as to how they’d fit all the songs in without making the show seem stupid. The writer of the play is clearly talented, and has a keen knowledge of her Swedish pop.
Have you seen Moulin Rouge? Did you notice how people in the audience laughed each time they recognized a song that popped up in the movie? Seeing Mamma Mia is a little like that. If you constantly have ABBA Gold in your CD player like me, you’ll appreciate the play a little more. However, you don’t have to be a diehard ABBA fan to have fun. Even my boyfriend enjoyed it!
I will say, however, that the diehard ABBA fan will have MORE fun. You’ll wonder in amazement to see how the songs truly fit the story. You’ll giggle when you recognize the opening lines from “The Winner Takes It All” and especially “Take a Chance on Me”. It’s impossible that the show has overlooked your favorite song- they’re ALL in there!! (Notice the name of the boat that Sophie’s fiancée rides)
When you go see the show, promise me one thing: do not leave right after the cast takes their bows. There is more. And you’ll kick yourself for missing it. Trust me.
It all boils down to this
I’ve never, EVER, had this much fun watching a musical. The story is sweet, the talent is amazing, and the music is rockin’! I promise you’ll be dancing and singing in your seat!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
levda
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Member: Dana
Location: Chicago IL
Reviews written: 96
Trusted by: 72 members
About Me:
"CPAs are not boring. We just get excited over boring things."
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