REVIEW: Mamma Mia!

Arts & Entertainment Theatre & Performance

Mark Morellini
August 5, 2019

Fans of supergroup ABBA won’t be disappointed in the latest revival of Mamma Mia!, a musical which has had sold-out seasons worldwide.
Packemin Productions, whose previous works have included Wicked, West Side Story and Mary Poppins, continues the tradition of bringing affordable, family-friendly shows to the stage – their primary focus being on excellence.
Mamma Mia! is based around 22 of ABBA’s most popular songs and tells the story of a 20-year-old lady who, on the eve of her wedding, desperately longs to discover who her father is.
Heading the huge ensemble cast of 75 are Louise Symes (Oklahoma!) as Donna and Courtney Bell (As You Like It) as Sophie and a host of other professional actors in pivotal roles.
No expense has been spared on this ambitious production which boasts a full orchestra, incredible sets, and colourful costumes. Special credit must be given to the sound and lighting engineers whose skilful work compounds to the high quality of the musical.
It’s unimaginable what a daunting task it must have been directing such a huge cast, but as audiences sit in the darkened theatre mesmerised by the scale of this production, it becomes quite apparent that each performer had their heart and soul in the project and had just as much fun as the audience.
Some of the popular songs performed to imaginatively choreographed dance sequences include SOS, Mamma Mia, Gimme Gimme and Waterloo. Audiences will marvel and laugh throughout this fast-paced, energetic, feel-good show and perhaps shed a tear during the emotionally charged song Slipping Through My Fingers.
It’s always impossible to falter a show which brings such joy to audiences. At a recent performance, radiant smiles were noticeable throughout the entire musical, many audience members toe-tapping to the music and quietly singing along.
As a perfect ending to a great night out at the theatre, audiences are enticed to dance and sing-a-long in the finale to an encore performance of ABBA’s most popular hits. (MMo)