“you’re guaranteed to be dancing in your seat by the end“
Alana Kaye
3.5 platform boots out of 5
Sydney Lyric
Here we go again!
The worldwide phenomenon that is Mamma Mia! The Musical dancing queened their way onto the stage for opening night at Sydney Lyric yesterday to a standing ovation and a shower of silver confetti. Very fitting for what is an incredibly feel-good show that’ll have you bopping in your seat.
Since opening at the Prince Edward Theatre in London in April 1999, Mamma Mia! has been seen by more that 60 million people around the world, and has been performed in over 250 cities.
This thrilling new production (a revival of the 2017 one) is produced in Australia by Michael Coppel, Louise Withers & Linda Bewick.
Helpmann Award-winner Elise McCann stars as Donna Sheridan, free-spirited and hardworking single mum to Sophie, brought to life by emerging young artist Sarah Krndija.
If you’re not one of the 60 million people who’ve seen the production (or the 2008 movie starring Meryl Streep – have you been living under a rock?!) here’s the plot in a nutshell: Set on a beautiful Greek island and inspired by ABBA songs woven together to tell the story, Mamma Mia! The Musical follows the young bride-to-be Sophie, who is on a quest to discover who her father really is – by inviting 3 possible suspects to her wedding, unbeknownst to her mum, Donna. There’s a little bit of chaos, a whole lot of laughter, some tears, and, of course, lots of singing and dancing.
McCann and Krndija have a lovely chemistry together on stage. McCann is a consummate professional, and I never had to worry that she’d put a foot wrong or sing a bum note. She was on top form the entire night. Krndija was a tiny bit rocky in the first half, which I put down to opening night jitters. But by the second act, she was fully in her stride. Krndija is a rising star to watch – she’s got infectious charm & energy in spades.
This is a relatively unknown cast, and there were some sketchy singing performances last night. However, the ensemble for this show is fantastic, hitting every beat and really bringing the dynamism to each of the big musical numbers. I have to say, the men in the ensemble were true standouts – they performed their fun flipper-filled ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’ choreography with verve!
Other musical number highlights include the phenomenal ‘Does Your Mother Know’ with cougar Tanya (played by the outstanding Deone Zanotto) and eager Pepper (the energetic Jordan Tomljenovic), and McCann’s heart wrenching ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
Linda Bewick’s simple, effective set doesn’t overcomplicate things, as you can sometimes find in big budget musicals. It evokes a Greek island paradise without bashing you over the head with references. Lighting design by Gavin Swift must be given a shoutout – subtle changes in tone denote time of day or night, and his use of spotlights to pinpoint main characters during big ensemble pieces is hugely effective.
This is a heart-warming, feel-good show for all ages. And whether you’re an ABBA fan, a Mamma Mia! lover or a first-time watcher, you’re guaranteed to be dancing in your seat by the end (and if you aren’t, you’ve come to the wrong show!).
Alana Kaye, Theatre Now
