Mamma Mia

On Friday 30th December 2011 for my end of 2011 treat I went to London with my good friend Helen to see Mamma Mia.  I love ABBA, have most of their music on vinyl and some on I have on CD.  I grew up with their music and absolutely feel in love with the movie Mamma Mia. 

So as you can imagine I was quite excited about seeing it.  I have seen a few musicals in my time and love going to the theatre whenever I can. My big thing is Musicals.

I have to say that I wasn't very impressed with Mamma Mia.  The staging was adequate for what the musical demanded with some parts of the stage rising which was very effective but the sound of the singers on stage wasn't so brilliant.  It sounded tinny.  There were parts were you could hear the band, who were below the stage, but not the words of the song the actors were singing.  The actors spent far to much time looking upstage which made it difficult to hear what was being said even though it was very obvious they were wearing mikes.

I was bitterly disappointed with the first Act because of the sound issues but the show did redeem itself in the second Act.  The sound was more clearer although not perfect and I started to feel engaged with the characters.

Sally Ann Triplett (played Donna) did a beautiful The Winner Takes It All that made the hairs stand at the back of the neck.  Joanna Monro and Kim Ismav who played Donna's best friends Rosie and Tanya were so funny singing Chiquitita.  Joanna's performance of Take a Chance on Me was hysterical as was Kim's performance of Does Your Mother Know.  The Chorus did a really good job of scene moving and keeping in character while doing it.  They were very energetic with their dances which did make you smile. 

By the end it did give you that warm glow that good films and musicals give you and I have to admit that I was up and dancing and singing with most of the audience at the very end. 

So although overall I felt this was a good musical I was glad I had seen but it was one that I won't be seeing again. 


Next year I'm off to see We Will Rock You and Les Miserables and whatever else I can get to see.