Theatre Review: Mamma Mia! is the feel-good spectacle we all need right now
This touring production of Mamma Mia! was just what the doctor ordered. It promised a night of good, easily digestible fun, and delivered exactly that.
For those unfamiliar with the story of Mamma Mia! (who are you?), the play follows the wedding of young Sophie on a magical Greek island. Trouble comes when her plan to invite three men, believing that one of them may be her father, backfires on her. Of course, the plot plays second fiddle to the timeless pop bliss of ABBA. The storyline was custom-built to cram in as many of their bangers as possible, and I am not complaining at all. Since its West End debut in 1999, some 60 million people have witnessed it worldwide, not to mention the millions who saw the film adaption that hit cinemas in 2008. Clearly, there's something about this play that captures our attention.
(Photos by James D. Morgan)
So, what sets this Australian adaption apart? Well, most notably, the cast is absolutely superb. Natalie O’Donnell and Sarah Morrison steal the show as lead mother-daughter duo Donna and Sophie respectively, wringing out all the nuisance possible from the script to deliver truly tour-de-force performances. As O’Donnell noted in our interview with her, ABBA songs can be truly difficult to master vocally, and everyone passed the test with flying colours. All the actors mastered their deliciously over-the-top roles with gusto, making it easy to get swept up in the spectacle.
And it is quite a spectacle. There’s impeccably designed sets, confetti canons and extravagant dance numbers galore. Everything about the production is carefully curated to knock your socks off. On that note, the music did just that; I couldn’t believe that there was an actual live band playing outside the audience’s line of sight. They were so good I thought it was a backing track. Sure, this play isn’t the most intellectual show around, but it never pretends to be. Simply put, Mamma Mia! is a feel-good, outrageous romantic-comedy that celebrates possibly the greatest pop act of all time. How can you resist that?
