ALEXANDRIA, VA – The show’s program describes the story as a mother, a daughter and three possible dads plus an unforgettable trip down the aisle that is set in a taverna on a Greek isle. That’s it in a nutshell. What it doesn’t tell you, but more than likely you already knew, is this jukebox musical is loaded with 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits and tells a sweetheart of a story.
Not unexpectedly the audience was filled with mom or dad ABBA fans along with their daughters, accompanied by a gaggle of the daughters’ besties…and then there’s the rest of us musical theater fanatics. The score reflects the long history of ABBA’s huge impact on rock music and especially disco scene of the 70’s and early 80’s. For the parents my guess is it’s both a teachable moment about maintaining friendships and a trip back in time they can share while they reminisce to the catchy tunes that backgrounded their youth.
When Sophie finds her mother’s diary and refers to the time she was conceived, she finds three entries regaling three epic nights spent with three different men. Hoping to discover which one is her birth father, Sophie (Alisa Melendez) invites all three to her upcoming nuptials without revealing her devious plan to her mother, Donna Sheridan, played by Christine Sherrill. Meanwhile Donna has invited the glam Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and cut-up Rosie (Carly Sakalove), gal pals (from her former girl group Donna and the Dynamos), to the wedding. They’re a tribute to the lasting friendships formed as a girl band. Circling in the sexy (potential) dads, Bill, Sam and Harry, creates this rock musical – a cross between the Marx Brothers comedic high-jinks and a romcom.
The “dads” are the mystery Sophie hopes to solve in order to find the right one to walk her down the aisle. Her fiancé, Sky (Grant Reynolds) is not so hot on her plan and thinks Sophie doesn’t trust him to accept her as she is.
Harry Bright (Rob Marnell), Bill Austin (Jim Newman) and Sam Carmichael (Victor Wallace) are the one-night stands who have no clue why they are there, imagining Donna, not Sophie, has invited them after 21 years. Sophie is 20. You do the math. They don’t know about a daughter or that Donna got pregnant by one of them. There are some terrifically hilarious and sexy dance numbers as when Sky’s bros create a bachelor party clad in blue Spandex unitards, swim goggles and flippers singing “Lay All Your Love on Me”. Later, at Sophie’s hen party the women reenact one of their biggest hits, “Super Trouper” in their signature, spangled, bell-bottomed jumpsuits. In another wild scene Josie seduces Bill with “Take a Chance on Me”, which he agrees to in a wild and crazy love scene.
Not to leave out the fabulously snarky and sophisticated, three-times married, Tanya, who is propositioned by Pepper (Patrick Park), one of the juicy cabana boys. In the number “Does Your Mother Know”, she both lures him and blows him off in fine, comic fashion getting one of the biggest applauses of the night.
On a more serious note, in a stirring number Donna confronts Bill, an Australian journalist and adventure-seeker. She wonders why he wants to get back with her in the number “The Winner Takes It All”. Throughout, ABBA’s hits dovetail seamlessly into the plot even the number “Mamma Mia” which Donna sings after freaking out when she sees the three men arrive at her taverna.
Whatever you do, don’t be one of those audience members who race down the aisle when they see the cast take their bows, thinking it’s over. The wildest party is at the very end when the house lights are blazing and they all come out in glamorous ABBA costumes to sing a reprise of “Mamma Mia”, “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo” cueing the audience to sing along. You wouldn’t want to miss that!
With Haley Wright as Ali, L’Oréal Roaché as Lisa, Louis Griffin as Eddie and Blake Price as Father Alexandrios. Ensemble members are Gabe Amato, Caro Daye Attayek, Adia Olanethia Bell, Tony Clements, Emily Croft, Madison Deadman, Jordan De Leon, Nico DiPrimio, Patrick Dunn, Stephanie Genito, Jasmine Overbaugh, Blake Price, Dorian Quinn, Xavi Soto Burgos and Amy Weaver.
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd; Book by Catherine Johnson; Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with some songs by Stig Anderson; Production Design by Mark Thompson; Lighting Design by Howard Harrison; Sound Design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken; Choreography by Anthony Van Laast; Musical Supervisor, Additional Material & Arrangements by Martin Koch with the MAMMA MIA! Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
Highly recommended! A terrific cast makes it a fun night at the theatre for teens and adults.
Through September 1 at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. For tickets and information call the box office at 202 467-4600 or visit www.Kennedy-Center.org.
