“Mamma Mia, Here I Go Again!”
If you’re anything like me during these cold winter days, you long for sun and warmth to come back. I usually have a plan to go somewhere warmer in mind to get me through my winter doldrums. Last week I passed the time and thought of my upcoming trip to the Greek island of Calicos, complete with a soundtrack by pop-music icons, ABBA. That’s right, I was looking forward to seeing “Mamma Mia!” this past Friday night.
I’m going out on a limb here and guessing that probably about 75% of the audience that attended the National Broadway Tour of “Mamma Mia!” at Merrill Auditorium for the four sell-out shows this weekend had already either seen the movie or the show at least once before. In my case, I had only seen the movie where as my date for the evening had seen the show four times before, including the original in London, and the movie as well (of course!).
The appeal and popularity of “Mamma Mia!” is not surprising. I saw the movie version with my parents, while it was in the theaters. My friend, Katy, had also seen it with her family (on multiple occasions). That’s one of the first things to love about this show: it’s for all generations. Those who had eight-tracks of ABBA enjoy the music now as much as someone who wasn’t even alive when they gave there last appearance in 1982. ABBA’s music has transcended generations as well as continents.
What makes this tale fun - aside from the comedy of errors that naturally ensues when you have a mother, a daughter about to get married and three possible dads – all comes back to the music. The show is mostly a chance for the gal-pals of both mother and daughter to get together and have some fun before the big day. The National Touring company has a wonderfully talented cast that has a great time with songs like “Money, Money, Money”, “Does Your Mother Know”, “Gimme, Gimme” and “Voulez-Vous” and also hit the emotional mark while singing beautifully in “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “Our Last Summer” and the 11th -hour number, “The Winner Takes it All”.
After a fun, peppy, and colorful two and half hours spent on this Grecian Isle listening to ABBA, it was hard to go back out into the cold of January again, but I can always put on any ABBA song and be transported back there again in my mind.
Did you escape this weekend’s weather with a visit to the Greek Isle? Was it your first time or were you returning for the second, third or fourth time?
Johnie says:
Your cranium must be protceting some very valuable brains.
Dennis I says:
It was our 40th anniversary and a very appropriate way to spend it , on a Greek Island. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
P Anderson says:
I went with a group of friends… Not a big fan of Abba, I reluctantly went - but the show was so wonderful, I couldn’t help from being immersed in the story, the singing and the acting. I hope this show and this company returns to Portland! I would love to see it again!