The ABBA Musical “Mamma Mia!” returns to New York
It is always a pleasure at the start of a new Broadway season to see a colorful musical that’s so exuberant and totally delightful that one leaves the theater with a broad smile, wonderful memories, and the hope that other shows during the season will hopefully be as enjoyable.
Such is the case with this explosive revival of “Mamma Mia!” which opened at the Winter Garden, home of its original creation on Broadway 24 years ago, in the summer, right in the middle of the vacation season, a smart move if ever there was one. Nothing could be more appropriate, given the fact that its action takes place in a Greek island, a familiar haven for summer vacations, musically illustrated with many uplifting songs by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, which seem to have been written specifically for this occasion, and a glorious contribution to this amusing story of a bright 20-year-old girl in search of the father she has never known.
Catherine Johnson’s book adapts itself beautifully to a simple narrative that finds Sophie (Amy Weaver making her debut on Broadway), about to marry her friend Sky (Grant Reynolds, also a newcomer). A diary written by her mother, Donna (Christine Sherril, a standout in her Broadway debut), owner of a small b&b on the fictional island of Kalolairi, reveals that she had consecutive love affairs with three different men around the same time those many years ago, but doesn’t know which one made her pregnant. Undaunted, Sophie decides to send an invitation to her wedding to all three men, Harry, Bill and Sam (respectively played by Rob Marnell, Jim Newman and Victor Wallace, all three familiar figures in various Broadway shows), in the hope she will find the father who will walk her down the aisle.
Meanwhile, Donna has invited Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and Rosie (Carly Sakolove), the two friends with whom she once created a vocal trio known as “Donna and The Dynamos”. Ultimately, Sam tells Donna he always loved her, and she decides to marry him, Harry announces he is involved in a gay relationship, while Bill seems to have found an appropriate partner in Rosie. As for Sophie and Sky, they both agree they are not ready to get married yet, and they leave the island together for a trip around the world.
While this is typically a jukebox musical, the songs fit the action so tightly that one feels as if they had been written specifically for it, a rare instance where musical numbers and narrative are a perfect match. One must admit that those songs, originally created for ABBA, one of the great international pop groups of the 1970s, are so popular that the audience responds with enthusiasm to the vocal performances solidly backed by orchestrations that give them a new reverb effect and illuminate them again, like “Dancing Queen”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Honey Honey”, “Money, Money, Money”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Voulez-vous”, “S.O.S.” and of course “Mamma Mia”, among another dozen.
The whole thing is made even more enjoyable thanks to the imaginative humor spread over the action by choreographer Anthony van Laast and director Phyllida Lloyd, in scenes brightly lit by Howard Harrison that give the show its elan and full impact, while providing the extraordinary cast of young actors and amazing dancers, many of whom are also making their Broadway debut, an opportunity to engage and seduce the audience. Given all these positive assets, “Mamma Mia!” stands out as a memorable and terrific festive opening to this new season.
Musical Supervision: Martin Koch • Musical Direction: Will Van Dyke • Choreography: Anthony Van Laast • Production Design: Mark Thompson • Lighting Design: Howard Harrison • Sound Design: Andrew Bruce und Bobby Aitken • With: Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan), Amy Weaver (Sophie Sheridan), Carly Sakolove (Rosie), Jalynn Steele (Tanya), Rob Marnell (Harry Bright), Jim Newman (Bill Austin), Victor Wallace (Sam Carmichael), Grant Reynolds (Sky), Lena Owens (Lisa), Justin Sudderth (Pepper), Ethan Van Slyke (Eddie), Haley Wright (Ali), Sarah Agrusa (Swing) and others
Cover photo: Joan Marcus