I knew that Mamma Mia was out there but I didn’t really know anything about it so didn’t now what to expect as I took my seat this past Tuesday. But you can never go wrong with ABBA music. <–Fact!
So I was surprised to find myself observing a Greek Island just in advance of a young couple’s wedding. Sophie is the bride in question. She is the daughter of a single mom, Donna, who runs a taverna on the island. She doesn’t know who her father is. So she snoops in her mother’s old diary and comes up with three possible suspects and invites them to her wedding using her mother’s name but without her mother’s knowledge. They all accept. What could possibly go wrong? Well everything and nothing but we have a wonderful story to tell with wonderful songs. And, I forgot, Donna was something of a rock star in her day in an all girl band, the Dynamos, and they are attending the wedding too, that’s Rosie and Tanya. So not only do we get the usual musical excitement as actors break into song but we got an extra treat of a Dynamos performance in platform boots and Vegas style costumes. Are you ready for Dancing Queen?
A quick formality: The lyrics and music are by the mavens behind ABBA of course, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus with the book (story) by Catherine Johnson. And this high powered and vibrant touring production is directed by Phyllida Lloyd! One other production superstar is the lighting designer, Howard Harrison. His lighting emphasis and washes really really enhanced the performances on stage.
From my seat, the star of this show is Juliette M. Ojeda! She personifies what I feel the character of Sophie is all about here. And her voice is just a marvelous instrument and carries the weight of each song and the mood of the moment. And her dance steps are a smooth, lithe, and agile as any I’ve seen on this stage. Ojeda also knows how to work with and work off of the other performers on stage. Her mother, Donna, is played by Jessica Crouch, and she pulls off being a bit older version of Sophie. That relation should be the other way around but I couldn’t take my focus off of Ojeda. And Crouch too has the moves and the voice to be the focal point in every scene she enters. And she is majestic when she takes on her role as the leader of Donna and the Dynamos.
And the Dynamos? Given that Sophie is 20 now, they must be about 40 somethings? But Erica Mansfield as Tanya and Kayla Ryan Walsh as Rosie still show us the moves and the style and the youthful exuberance that they obviously have worked to maintain. And they can still strut in their own platform shoes and colorful ABBA outfits to boot.
When the father possibilities show up, Sophie tries to determine, without any luck, which one is her father. In a sense of desperation she asks all three to walk her down the aisle. They don’t all know that initially but accept it. Then after a few conversations and dreams, Sophie decides the only one really deserving of walking her down the aisle is her mother.
There are a few other shenanigans before and during the wedding, but true love wills out, but not necessarily as we would expect, but everyone will be happy in the end.
But, but, we aren’t done yet. AFTER the curtain call, there is a grand finale with the entire cast and chorus singing these marvelous ABBA songs and the audience is welcome to join in. So brush up on your lyrics and get your voice in shape because if ABBA is your thing, you will want to have that last bit of fun.
And I hope the full moon is getting scale, because he’s spending a lot of time on stage.
One Quibble: It’s a live band. A great live band. But it could tone down a few decibels. Particularly in the first act, even though the actors are well mic’d, the music drown them out a few times.
Mamma Mia! runs at the Marcus Performing Arts Center from now through September 27, 2026.
TICKETS!! Additional INFORMATION!
