Mamma Mia! - the Musical

What I saw:

I was really looking forward to seeing this musical as I love the iconic ABBA songs and the film is a favourite of mine. I had seen the musical a few years ago, but watching Mamma Mia again has allowed me to see it in a new light, and I have found that I have enjoyed a lot more this time. As an audience member, it was interesting to see the set design and the musicians beneath the stage. I have seen many, many musicals, but Mamma Mia is a whole different experience. The whole audience gets involved, and everyone is singing at the top of their lungs. The atmosphere is just phenomenal.

Plot:

For anyone who does not know, the plot is solely based around many of ABBA's songs. The story is about a girl - Sophie- who is determined to find her father, whom she has never met, in time for her wedding. She discovers three possible fathers and spontaneously invites them to her wedding... much to her mother's dismay!

The comedic musical is set in a hotel on a Greek island. The songs are fabulous and memorable, and there is such an amicable and friendly atmosphere.

What I enjoyed:

I was very impresses by how many other ABBA songs (not included in the film), they managed to include seamlessly in the musical. The singing was brilliant, and all the actors had such strong voices. The band was great, and it was amazing to hear all the songs performed live rather than from a speaker or from the television. Although the stage was fairly small, the space was used on the whole quite well.

One of my favourite moments was when Donna (Sophie's mother, played by Helen Hobson), sung 'The Winner Takes It All.' Her voice was so powerful and captivating, and she sung with such vigour, passion, emotion and intensity. You could clearly tell she was putting everything into that performance, and it completely mesmerised and captured the attention of the spellbound audience.

What could have been Improved:

I thought the set was quite basic and could have been more developed. However, what they had was cleverly utilised and scene changes were all smooth. The main set consisted of 2 semi-circular walls which were spun, turned and manoeuvred to represent different places (for example, the bedroom, or dining area).

Would I recommend it?

I would definitely recommend Mamma Mia the Musical to any ABBA fans, or anyone who has seen and enjoyed the movie Mamma Mia. Watching all the songs performed live just brings the whole story off of the screen to life, and it was an incredibly memorable experience for me.