On Feb. 25 at the Fox Theatre, I teared up in the middle of a performance of “Mamma Mia.” Actually, it happened multiple times.
Now, this might sound silly, but if you’ve ever been lucky enough to be moved by the first few notes of “Super Trouper,” you probably know what I’m talking about. There is a singular, mystical quality to ABBA’s discography that transcends objectivity. Sometimes, the words don’t quite make sense (that might be a translation thing – ABBA, a famously Swedish band), but the emotional core of each song rings true in the music. And that hits you – or at least, hits me – right in the tear ducts. From the startling poignancy of regret in “Slipping Through My Fingers” to the unbridled glee of “Take a Chance On Me,” every ABBA song is pure feeling poured into a melody.
When those songs are performed well, that feeling only amplifies. And the touring cast of “Mamma Mia” didn’t disappoint. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed the 2008 movie version, this production had a similar energy to that film – that is to say, a little loose, a little funky, but endlessly energetic.
“Mamma Mia” first opened in London’s West End in 1999 and centers around a woman named Donna, her daughter Sophie, and the three men who might possibly be Sophie’s father. Since its debut, there have been multiple national and international tours and two movies, catapulting “Mamma Mia” into the stratosphere as one of the most popular musicals of its ilk.
The design of this touring production captures the essence of that 2008 film, from the sets to the costumes. The musical takes place on the Greek island of Kalokairi, the set a simple grouping of white buildings meant to represent the hotel that Donna (played by Christine Sherrill) owns on the island. It’s not a fancy set by any means, but it gives the large ensemble room to play and, more importantly, room to dance. Anthony Van Laast’s choreography can be anything from silly and slapstick – like when Donna’s friends Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and Rosie (Carly Sakolove) attempt to drag Donna out of man-induced depression with “Chiquitita” – to sexy and glitzy, like during the big party number “Voulez-Vous.” Sometimes, you get a healthy mix of both, like when Sophie (Amy Weaver) playfully flirts with her fiance Sky (Grant Reynolds) during “Lay All Your Love On Me” – and then his groomsmen start doing high knees dressed in flippers and snorkeling gear.
The best parts of “Mamma Mia” are these moments that mix glitz with a little bit of silliness and a whole lot of earnest fun. The cast of this particular production really captures that unique blend. There are a ton of laughs baked into “Mamma Mia,” but as Tanya and Rosie, Steele and Sakolove had the best comedic timing and chemistry. Both performers nailed the physical outlandishness of their performances with gusto, game to throw themselves on a bed, impersonate Elvis, or whatever else the role might require.
Not only did the vocal prowess of each performer stand out during their individual songs, but their vocal tone always fit neatly with their character. As Sophie, Weaver sounds like Broadway’s version of a pop princess, and Sherrill turns Donna into a warbling former diva who can’t help but let the drama out every now and again. Sherrill was a standout in terms of really performing her songs as well, particularly with her face. At the beginning of the titular number, she stands frozen in a doorway, surrounded by Sophie’s potential three fathers. During those opening moments, she barely moves anything but her expression, her eyes doing all the work and hitting all the way to the back of the house.
Sherrill achieves the same heights during “The Winner Takes It All,” which Donna sings to her former flame Sam (Victor Wallace). She moves through the highs and lows of that song deliberately, her voice shuddering or soaring at all the right moments. Her performance of this song specifically is a perfect encapsulation of what I tried to articulate at the beginning of this piece – raw emotion bottled in a melody. That’s what ABBA and “Mamma Mia” is all about.