Theatre Review by our Theatre Reviewer Jonah Zalick #OnePlymouth
It was Wednesday 19th – sitting in my seat, programme in my lap, I was buzzing with excitement to finally get to see Mamma Mia. The musical that sparked the creation of the well-loved movie boasts achievements in its own right, being the seventh longest-running West-End show in history. It has had spectacular productions across the world, and is adored by every audience. The lights dimmed as, from the orchestra pit, a medley of some of ABBA’s most well-known songs rose, and I could already tell that Plymouth’s audience would love the show just as fiercely.
‘Mamma Mia’ is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of ABBA composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It tells the story of twenty-year-old bride-to-be Sophie who is getting ready to marry Sky, her fiancé. She wants her father to walk her down the aisle – however, she doesn’t know who her father is. After reading her mother’s – Donna’s – diary, she discovers three wild loves of her mother’s life from twenty-one years ago: Sam Carmichael, Bill Austin and Harry Bright. All could potentially be her father; their romances with her mum line up with her birth-date. In a bid to discover who her father is, Sophie invites all three men to her wedding on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi – while Donna is completely unaware that her past, full of adventure and heartache, is about to revisit her.
The dancing in the show was phenomenal! While I have to applaud every performer for mesmerising me with their movements and enthralling me, I must absolutely commend Anthony Van Laast CBE as choreographer for ensuring each move had a purpose, whether that be to make the audience laugh, or to draw us in, capturing our attention with such a beguiling intensity that I could have felt like I was the only person in the theatre. The combination of Van Laast’s role as choreographer and the amazing talent of all performers made for an unforgettable experience.
Helen Anker as Tanya, friend of Donna, and James Willoughby Moore as Pepper, friend of Sky, constantly caught my eye. Not only did they convey a magnetic chemistry between the two characters in their cheeky flirtations but they were so individually charismatic that I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them.
Mamma Mia is a wonderful and joyous show and not one to be missed. It’s choc-ful of songs that any person would enjoy, whether they be the biggest ABBA fan or a casual music listener. The performance aspects should absolutely not be looked over, either. From the talent of the orchestra pit, to the onstage performers, to every member on both the creative and production teams, Mamma Mia is such a dazzling experience uniquely different from its film adaptation that even if you have watched the movie hundreds of times, you would still be getting something so excitingly fresh that you would be glad you didn’t miss out on the opportunity to see Mamma Mia while it was still in theatres.
Theatre Review by our Theatre Reviewer Jonah Zalick #OnePlymouth
