Gammage Goers

Pamela reviews Mamma Mia!

Time for a Girl’s Night Out!! Mamma Mia is in town and if you loved the movie, you are sure to enjoy this show. I went last night for the opening night with my two sisters and my mom, as a mother’s day present, and it was a blast. Everything from the costumes to the music is sure to fill your night with fun! In comparison to the movie, the show was really similar in the numbers done and how they were done. However, seeing the performance live is in itself a different experience.

The cast was entertaining and kept the energy going throughout the entire performance. I especially loved the actress playing Donna Sheridan (Kaye Tuckerman). Her voice was spot on for the role, and this is saying a lot since she was up against Meryl. I would also give praise to all three actors playing the fathers (John Bisom, Paul De Boy, and John-Michael Zuerlein). I was not particularly fond of Pierce Brosnan’s voice in the film, so Bisom’s talents definitely brought the production value up for me. The vocals of Rosie (Mary Callanan) and Tanya (Alison Ewing) were also a great addition to this show! Both Callanan and Ewing steal the show several times with their comical abilities. The overall cast was very comical; the show will have you laughing the whole time. I will say that I wanted to be a little more involved with the actual dancing and music, since it is such a fun show, but there was not very much audience involvement until the very end. The orchestra, however, was awesome! I felt the energy coming from the musicians the entire show! If anything you should go watch this production solely for the music. The set design was pretty simple, and again reminded me of the movie a lot. It was very serene, and felt as if they were truly on an island. The use of lighting was huge with this production. Each number had its own journey of lighting sequences, all well fitting to the moments happening on stage.

Three of my favorite numbers which I am sure you will enjoy as well were Voulez-Vous, Winner Takes it All, and Take a Chance on Me. All three numbers had great energy by the cast! The show runs through May 22, so grab your girls and go have yourself a good time at Mamma Mia!