The ubiquitous Mamma Mia! makes a return appearance to Milwaukee’s Marcus Center, where it has played frequently over the past few years. This time, the North American tour arrived for a more abbreviated run than usual. The cast played five performances from Friday-Sunday.
Despite its frequency in Milwaukee, Mamma Mia! packed the house on opening night. One could only imagine how many of these theatergoers consisted of repeat viewers. The audience didn’t exactly sing along with the characters, but given that 54 million people have seen Mamma Mia! around the world, one would guess they probably could. In New York, the Broadway version continues to attract ticket buyers, as well. Mamma Mia! is undoubtedly the most successful “jukebox musical” of all time. The show’s creators had a lot to work with, as ABBA released a complete repertoire of hit songs in its heyday. Of the more than 20 songs showcased in Mamma Mia! , those that stand out the most prominently include “Dancing Queen” (with three middle-aged women singing into hairbrushes and blow dryers that imitate microphones), “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “S.O.S.,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Money, Money, Money.” And let’s not forget the popular title number, as well.
For the few folks who haven’t seen the show, it’s based around Sophie (Chelsea Williams), a young bride-to-be who grew up on a Greek Island. Her American mother built and runs a hotel on this picturesque island. Sophie is disappointed that she will be getting married without a father to walk her down the aisle. That’s because Donna, the mother, refuses to discuss the subject. Sophie retaliates by reading her mother’s diary and then secretly inviting all eligible candidates to her wedding. Donna is played here by Rebecca Mason-Wygal with freshness and enough vocal talent to lead several of the tunes. She seems to be truly blown away by the sudden appearance of three men with whom she was intimate 20 years earlier. All three of the guys seem delighted to be on the island once again. Donna, however, has a far different reaction.
Of the three likable guys, Jeff Drushal probably has the best voice as Sam. As Harry, Mark A. Harmon is ridiculously hilarious as he attempts to rekindle his wild past. As Bill, Michael Colavolpe is equally funny as a globe-trotting writer.
Donna’s best friends, who previously appeared together in a “girl band” of yore, are ably handled by Bailey Purvis as the sleek, sophisticated Tanya, and Sarah Smith as the more down-to-earth Rosie. Although they go over-the-top as much as the men, watching them is still a lot of fun. Older grown-ups in the audience can certainly relate to these women as they abandon themselves to the songs that originally brought them together. Who cares if they can’t fit into the Spandex, disco-colored costumes they wore years ago?
Part of the reason this production was able to squeeze in a brief visit to Milwaukee is undoubtedly the relatively few sets and props. Mamma Mia! doesn’t depend on dazzling sets to draw our attention. What does excite is the combination of a high-energy dance show and capable performers who become the characters we’ve grown to love over the years.
