Thank you for the music, MAMMA MIA!

The Grand Theatre at NMACC is running full house on MAMMA MIA! The Smash Hit Musical based on the songs of ABBA

The Grand Theatre at Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) is running houseful these days; why wouldn’t they with the worldwide smash hit musical, MAMMA MIA! Its debut show in India has been playing from November 29, with people from all age groups — even teenagers who were introduced to ABBA’s hits by their parents — watching the live musical performance.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch. 

As we settle down, an announcement in the theatre suggests that we put our phone on silent and issues a clear instruction of no photos and videos of the show. The screen rolls up and we see a young girl in a frill skirt and top, sitting next to a post box with letters in her hand, leaning back on the white and blue walls. The set instantly makes the audience visualize the feeling of an idyllic Greek island. She looks at the letters, and sings, ‘I Have a Dream, a Song to Sing...’. 

This is Sophie Sheridan, played by actress Jess Michelmore. The soon-to-be-a-bride, Sophie, is sending the letters to her mother, Donna’s (played by Sara Poyzer) lovers from the  past — Bill Austin (played by Phil Corbitt, Harry Bright (played by Neal Craig) and Sam Carmichael (played by Richard Standing).

When Sophie’s two best friends arrive, she shares this secret that she believes one of her mother’s three lovers , could be her biological father. At this point, the three girls read Sophie’s mother’s romantic diary and sing, ‘Honey honey, how you thrill me…Ah-ha…’.

The heart- warming story of a mother and daughter unfolds to the timeless hits of legendary Swedish band ABBA. The 22 chartbusters include Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes it All, Waterloo and a special performance towards the end, by all the artistes, that will make the audience jive.

Sophie’s mother, Donna, is a tavern hostess who earlier used to front a band named, ‘Donna and Dynamos’ with her friends Tanya (played by Sarah Earnshaw) and Rosie (played by Nicky Swift) who are also here for the wedding. With friends and bandmates meeting after ages, they sit down at the table and Sophie pours them wine and introduces them to her fiance, Sky (played by Christopher Foley). Here, the three women recall the old days, how life has been for them, appreciating Donna for braving all the odds, working hard, raising a daughter without any support and it is the time to tap our feet to, ‘Money, money, money…’.