Go on and transport yourself from this cold English weather to the beautiful, warm sunshine of Greece. That's right, Mamma Mia has taken to the stage at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Set on an idyllic Greek island paradise, where the sun shines brightly, and the water always glistens a deep crystal blue. This is a tale of friendship, love, and identity, told through the timeless hits of ABBA. The musical follows mother and daughter Donna and Sophie Sheridan as they navigate their complicated family relationships. It sees Sophie on a quest to discover the father she never knew. This in turn brings her mother face to face with the three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding that nobody will ever forget!
If you are a fan of ABBA then this show is for you. With over 20 other songs in the musical including "I Have a Dream," "Waterloo," "Voulez-Vous," and "The Winner Takes It All". You’ll want to be up dancing and singing in the aisles along with the cast.
This production boasts a large, diverse cast. Their talent and unwavering energy cannot be underestimated and is undeniably impressive. The choreography from Anthony Van Laast is high energy, complex and at times relentless but it is a testament to the talent of the whole show that they deliver it with such ease. This was demonstrated in Voulez-Vous which was an especially terrific dance number where the whole ensemble came together.
The set brings the magic to life, transporting you to the sunny tropical paradise of Greece. It was simple yet effective, with the classic white and blue buildings as the main stage pieces set against a glistening sea blue backdrop. The costumes are big, bold, and glitzy. Everything you would want and expect, there was denim, flares, and sequins galore.
The three fathers Harry, Bill, and Sam played by Neal Craig, Phil Corbitt and Richard Standing made the roles their own and brought new energy to their characters, they felt original which can be challenging with this musical as so often it’s easy to compare it to the well-known and famously cast film.
The song ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ was a poignant moment bringing tears to my eyes as it captured an aspect of the mother-daughter relationship so beautifully. Jess Michelmore and Sarah Poyzer displayed this relationship so wonderfully and their portrayal of this special moment was captivating.
This is a musical full of cheesy jokes and one-liners, but above all, it’s a musical that brings joy. At its core is a message about family relationships and friendship. So, I think I can forgive some of the melodramatic elements in favour of, to quote ABBA that “melancholy feeling“it brings.
Comments