For the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many Milwaukee theaters are starting to play to (almost) full houses. Certainly, a sense of joy and anticipation was in the air on the opening night of Skylight Music Theater’s opening production, Mamma Mia!. The show, one of many pandemic-delayed performances from 2020, was finally getting its chance to shine.
And shine it did, under the adept direction of Monica Kapoor. Although this is her first project with Skylight, Kapoor performed in the Broadway production for seven years.
A couple of those years on Broadway were spent sharing the stage with a member of the Skylight cast: Victor Wallace, who plays Sam in this production. Wallace, who bears a striking resemblance to well-known stage veteran Victor Garber, is a Wisconsin native who also played Sam in the final Broadway cast of Mamma Mia! And actor Lisa Estridge, who plays Donna, also has previous experience with the show. Such sturdy credentials are put to good use in a production that is as delicious as a pumpkin spice latte, without the calories. This show excels on every level as it creates a wonderful, feel-good world of music, dancing and singing, all to the beat of the Swedish pop-group, ABBA.
Even patrons who’ve seen this show previously – such as its Broadway tour or the award-winning film starring Meryl Streep – won’t want to miss their chance to immerse themselves in this stunning, spectacular show.
In a pre-show talk on opening night, Skylight Executive Director Jack Lemmon encouraged the near-capacity crowd to “whoop and holler.” He needn’t have worried. By the start of the show’s overture (expertly handled by music sirector David Bonofiglio and a small orchestra), audiences were already tapping their toes and nodding their heads. By the curtain call, audience members were singing along with the cast and clapping rhythmically to the beat. Although this is the first time Skylight has offered Mamma Mia! in its 63-year history, it nonetheless pulls out all the stops to deliver a Broadway-caliber show.
Looking back, Mamma Mia! first opened on Broadway 21 years ago, just days after the 9/11 tragedy. The city was reeling from it all: the destruction, the loss of lives; and the fear of what might come next. Mamma Mia’s recipe of joyous fun and a text about connecting with family helped the city heal in the wake of the crisis. Since then, the show has gone way beyond the boundaries of the Great White Way. It has been seen in more than 40 countries on six continents.
Mamma Mia! is set on a small Greek island. It focuses on the story of Sophie (Camara Stampley), a young woman on a journey to discover her roots – in time for her upcoming marriage. It explores the relationship between Sophie and her single mother, Donna (Lisa Estridge), while at the same time, Donna must confront her own past.
Donna’s surprise reunion with the three men who may be Sophie’s father has a few hiccups, of course. All of them were secretly invited to attend Sophie’s wedding by Sophie herself. More welcome are some anticipated wedding guests, such as Donna’s close friends and former bandmates, Tanya (Kelly Britt) and Rosie (Amanda Satchell). Many years ago, the three women formed a rock band. Even when the band disbanded, the women remained close friends.
The musical’s opening scenes, in which wedding guests begin to arrive, has a particular potency in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In our society, family has gained more prominence in the months when families were forced to be apart. Even the gathering of old friends (and old flames) has relevance today.
Although each ABBA song is a gem, the show really gets moving with one of their best-known tunes, “Dancing Queen.” The three former bandmates belt out the song with superb relish, providing one of the show’s early highlights. Other songs appearing in the show are: “Waterloo,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Super Trouper” and, of course, the show’s title tune.
It's easy to see that director Monica Kapoor is also a dancer by profession. The dance sequences erupt “spontaneously” with symmetry and grace. In a nod to Kapoor’s own background, one can spot an occasional movement borrowed from Bollywood dancing.
The entire cast is light on its feet, executing the dance moves with precision and grace. In addition to the main characters, the ensemble is particularly polished, with shout-outs to minor characters such as Eddie, the island bartender and staff go-fer (Romesh Jayasundara); Ali, one of Sophie’s bridesmaid’s (Emma Knott), and Arjun Dhawan, who inhabits several characters.
As Sophie, Stampley brings a winsome charm and innocence to her ingenue role. As her mother, Donna, Estridge brings a wealth of talent (and a huge voice) to the show’s most-well-rounded character. The three men (no spoilers here) work exceptionally well together. There’s Harry, a former metallic rock star who now works in banking (Ben George, who excels in flipping between these roles), Bill, an Australian adventurer (Jacob Horstmeier, who does a great Aussie accent), and Sam, Donna’s former heartthrob (a charismatic Victor Wallace).
The Skylight show takes place in an authentic-looking taverna (by set designer Kimberly Powers), with appropriate lighting (by Shawn Irish). Veteran costume designer Jason Orlenko turns out one delectable outfit after another. He pays homage to the original production in the rock costumes worn by “Donna and the Dynamos,” and shows a sense of fun in designing clothing that ranges from upscale attire for Tanya, fun party clothes for the bachelorettes, to scuba suits.
The Skylight production is meant for adults and children ages 10 and up. The wedding scenes will be particularly enjoyed by young girls, who may picture their own nuptials in the story of Sophie and her groom, Sky (Ben Broughton). There are plenty of laughs and even a sense of slapstick humor that barely contains itself. Overall, this is a must-see highlight of the Milwaukee fall theater season.
Images:
Opened:
September 23, 2022
Ended:
October 16, 2022
Country:
USA
State:
Wisconsin
City:
Milwaukee
Company/Producers:
Skylight Music Theater
Theater Type:
Regional
Theater:
Broadway Theater Center - Cabot Theater
Phone:
414-291-7800
Website:
skylightmusictheatre.org
Running Time:
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Monica Kapoor
Choreographer:
Monica Kapoor
Review:
Cast:
Camara Stampley (Sophie Sheridan), Lisa Estridge (Donna Sheridan), Delly Britt (Tanya), Amanda Satchell (Rosie), Ben Broughton (Sky), Ben George (Harry Bright), Jake Horstmeier (Bill Austin), Victor Wallace (Sam Carmichael).
Technical:
Sets: Kimberly Powers; Costumes: Jason Orlenko; Lighting: Shawn Irish; Music director: David Bonofiglio; Sound: Ben Scheff.
Critic:
Anne Siegel
Date Reviewed:
September 2022