Mamma Mia!

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Mamma Mia!

Playwright/s/Composer/s – Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with some songs by Stig Anderson book by Catherine Johnson.

Production Company/Theatre space – (professional) Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar, in association with Universal, Broadway Across Canada, The John Ware Organization / Jubilee Auditorium.

Length – 2 Acts (2 hours, 35 minutes, one intermission.)

Genre– Musical, based on the songs of ABBA.

Premise – A woman invites three of her mom’s boyfriends to her wedding in order to ascertain which is her father.

Why this play? Why now? – Name recognition with a track record and a loyal fan base.

Curiosities – I muse, how do local companies tap into the enthusiasm that these shows generate? Can this audience’s passion exist without known material, big budgets, or big casts?

Notable Moment – Carly Sakolove seducing Leland Burnett.

Notable writing – Judy Craymer originated the idea for Mamma Mia and founded Littlestar Services with Andersson and Ulvaeus in 1996. Catherine Johnson wrote the book and the screenplay which won the Film Council Best Script Award. Her show has since had over 50 productions and been translated into 16 languages. Unlike the majority of jukebox musicals which focus on the singular rom com plot, this has an emphasis on the mother daughter relationship which is really sweet.

Notable performances – The show really belongs to friends/backup singers of the mother’s old girl group. Jalynn Steele, as her name puns, steals the show along with Carly Sakolove who provides the comic moments. Blake Price does the worst British accent in recent history and Leland Burnett has been directed as a caricature, while Victor Wallace sings with the intensity of Jean Valjean. In the daughter role, Juliette M. Ojeda’s beautiful voice and youthful energy are endearing. Playing the mother, Jessica Crouch really comes alive as herself in the curtain call and double encore numbers.

Notable design/Production – Lighting Designer Howard Harrison represented the stunning beauty of the Greek isles with abstract waves, a blue light frame, and curious circular dot lighting. Opening night the sound levels were off a little and there was some feedback but I’m sure this will be rectified in the run.

Notable direction – Director Phyllida Lloyd keeps the 34 performers smoothly flowing but the men are all in different genres, the broad comedy (while amusing) is in sharp opposition to the realism and drama making the production feel out of kilter. Regardless of whoever directs it, this show will go on to make “Money, Money, Money”.

One reason to see this show –Mamma Mia! How can we resist you?