It is essential to note in this review of Mamma Mia! that Sid Vicious was a huge ABBA fan. This fact is crucial because it is impossible for those under a certain age to understand just how massive the Swedish pop band's reach was in their late '70s heyday, and most importantly, how we have never fully escaped it. Even the bassist for the Sex Pistols idolized them, to the degree that he nearly threw up on them in nervousness when they crossed paths. Now, a new generation is beginning to understand the power of ABBA as the nearly three-decade-old musical loosely based on their songs continues to press forward.
A Simple Plot with Enduring Appeal
The plot of Mamma Mia! is straightforward. It takes place on a Greek island, featuring a feisty hotel owner and former singer named Donna (Jessica Crouch), her soon-to-be-wed daughter Sophie (Juliette M. Ojeda), and the three men Sophie has invited to the wedding in an attempt to discover which one is her biological father. ABBA numbers with only a loose lyrical connection to the story are sprinkled on top, evoking nostalgia and fun. This frothy, unpretentious concoction is likely why the musical survives and continues to thrive through an unending theatrical tour and a series of hit movies.
Highlights of the Current Tour
The current tour delivers exactly what audiences expect: high-energy dance numbers, mild humour that would not be out of place in a late '70s sitcom, and at least one sequence involving the waving around of a power tool. That was my third favourite moment in Mamma Mia!, only because I was disappointed that the power tool in question was not actually used. It is clear that enjoyment of Mamma Mia! requires parking your brain for two and a half hours, but that does not diminish the production's highlights. One standout is a randy little dance-off between Donna's diva pal Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and bartender Pepper (Dominic Young) to the tune of Does Your Mother Know. The placement of Dancing Queen will not surprise anyone, but the comedic use of Take a Chance on Me might, especially with the very funny Carly Sakolove (as Rosie) delivering the lines.
Moments of Lull and Audience Reception
Unless you are a devout fan of ABBA or Mamma Mia!, it is possible that your eyes will glaze over during some sequences. For instance, I have already forgotten what was happening during SOS, and Voulez-Vous just flew right past me. The little side notes about getting older while trying to recapture your youth? Okay, that got a slight chuckle or two. At moments like that, I like to turn to words of wisdom spoken to me by country legend Charlie Daniels, to the effect that not everything is made for everyone. If the man who won a golden fiddle while playing against the devil feels that way, then I am going to take his advice and note that the parts where I was in danger of dozing off were enthusiastically received by the audience. Again, not everything is made for everyone.
Alternate Universe Reflections
Somewhere in an alternate universe, there is a critically acclaimed ABBA jukebox musical where Waterloo and The Winner Takes It All bookend the final days of Napoleon. In that universe, they did not get to see Chiquitita repurposed as a tender lament towards Donna from her friends Tanya and Rosie, or Money, Money, Money aptly sung in the midst of detailing the long, hard days of being an independent hotelier. So, while I would love to have seen Super Trouper as an ode to the Duke of Wellington, I would not want Mamma Mia! fans to miss moments that are indelible to them.
