Friday night and the lights are low, looking out for a place to go etc. Luckily I had a ticket in my pocket for "The Worlds No.1 Show" (as the adverts hype it), Mamma Mia!
OK, lets gloss over the fact that I hadn't actually even thought about seeing this particular musical prior to Sophia Ragavelas taking the role of Sophie Sheridan but being a brave soul and doing my bit to keep sophia-ragavelas.com up to date, I ventured forth into previously uncharted territories. The Prince of Wales Theatre and the murky world of the "tribute" musical.
And the show was quite good actually. Being (just about) old enough to remember Abba from the first time round, unfamiliarity with the songs was never going to be a problem and I quite liked the touch in the programme of only listing the songs in alphabetical order rather than show order to keep the audience guessing as to what was coming up. The storyline was as flimsy as they get (girl invites three men who may be her father to her wedding and all sorts of mayhem ensues) but performed in a way which totally captivated the full house.
Sophia was absolutely at her outstanding best, whether flirtatiously teasing her intended (Fergus March) or struggling through a nightmare surrounded by strange creatures in luminous green lifejackets and swimming caps. Her plaintive singing of I Have A Dream at the start of Act 1 captures the heart of the audience immediately and the reprise at the end rounds the evening off perfectly.
Other performances of note are Lara Mulcahy who was a scream as Rosie and after her duet with John Alastair as Bill, I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to Take A Chance On Me in the same light ever again! Kelly Rainford, the u/s Tanya is just perfect for the part, and Lucy Harris provided the full range of emotional expressions as Donna. But singling out those few is no detriment to the rest of the cast who performed to a excellent standard all night, and even the enforced standing ovation from the whole ensemble belting out several Abba hits at the end was well deserved!
So, Mamma Mia, here I go again? You bet! Just try and keep me away!
©Iain C Sykes 2005
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