One of the great things about Mamma Mia compared to other ‘juke box musicals’ is that the songs do not seem irrelevant to the action or simply shoe-horned in to fill a quota. In other words they could have been written with the story in mind. This is in part due to the fact that some of the later ABBA songs have a maturity which flowed from the autobiographical nature of the relationships the songs articulate, as, for example, in The Winner Takes It All.
Another element that lifts this out of the normal run of musicals and makes it a lot more than just ‘the best of’ is the strong element of ‘girls on top’, which not only gives the show its distinct viewpoint, but also adds to the sense of fun. In Does Your Mother Know, the deliciously vampish, Emma Cifford, slinks her way through a line-up of fit young men as her character, Tanya, gives them a taste of what’s on offer from a ‘real woman’.
Also helping the way in which the production scores is the clarity of the dance numbers, which do not suffer from over complication. A good example is in Super Trouper where simple shapes and harmonies bring the song alive. Again, there is a lot of sex in the show, but none of it is prurient or exploitative, notwithstanding the fact that Voulez-Vous has a distinct Bacchanalian feel in its staging, which will no doubt have lots of folk rushing off to book their Greek Island holiday.
Sara Poyzer sparkles as the single mum determined to make a success of life without men whilst putting aside her principles and supporting her daughter’s wish to do the conventional thing. She pulls off the (always tricky) feats of being both strong and vulnerable, woman and mother, level headed and emotional at the same time as making the songs her own. Lucy May Barker as her daughter, Sophie, makes sense of the young girl looking to set out on life’s adventure, but not before finding her own identity by way of discovering her parentage. All the supporting cast are up to the mark and all the musical numbers move the show along in style.
If you liked the film you’ll like the show, which gives you all the extra pizazz that only live theatre can deliver, and if you love ABBA it’s a must. Sentimental without being maudlin, great fun whilst keeping a sense of purpose, atmospheric lighting and bright costumes and with an uncluttered yet evocative set – everything conspires to make this great entertainment with a score few other recent musicals can match. ★★★★☆ Graham Wyles 31st March 2016
