Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia
8/9/2009
Event Rating: ★★½☆☆
(non collaborated)*

I am not the greatest fan of musicals, although, I must admit, some I have enjoyed. This one is a so-so for me.

Like many would most likely agree, the theatre version is far better than the movie. I did not personally like the movie. It was a bore with nuances of annoyance. Not to mention the fact that some of the chosen actors should not be allowed to sing. I won’t name any names to spare any undue embarrassment.

On the other hand there were enjoyable moments at the theatre. I definitely cannot complain about anyone’s singing talent, or performance for that matter. If you are an ABBA fan, it might even make it a spectacular event. I am not an ABBA fan, but I don’t hate them either. It’s more of an indifferent relationship.

What makes ‘Mamma Mia’ different from most other musicals is the fact that it is based on the music of a well known previously existing group of artists. You know their songs, have heard them on the radio, at weddings etc… which is the only down side of seeing it at the theatre. ABBA’s music can be pretty active and motivating and for some stupid reason it’s frowned upon, among the stuck up anal retentive theatre goer community, to sing along. Go figure. After all it’s a musical. Which makes it a distant relative of the ‘concert’, like a cousin.

The entire piece was executed perfectly with all but one hitch, which I felt was quite charming actually. In one scene the performer playing the “mom” throws a hat to one of the possible fathers underestimating her inertia, and it goes flying right by him. OK, that in itself is not what makes it charming but rather it was the chuckles as they went on singing their verses. It was so well played out that it should have been in the script. It made the nostalgic moment between the two characters even more special.

Off Subject:

I have to take a moment to give props to a performer that is often over looked. The sign language translator, Jason Hay-Southwell, who did the first half of the show was amazing. As I watched him dance and lip-sync to every word as he signed, I thought “man, this guy makes you almost want to be deaf“. He was so into it, that when they switch signers after the intermission and I saw how the next girl was signing, I was sure those relying on that medium were going to ask her to leave and get Jason. Anyway, I’m sure the hearing impaired were glad to have someone so vibrant.

Back:

Prior to seeing ‘Mamma Mia’ at the theatre the common buzz around it was: “it’s a happy musical, you go there and you walk out feeling good.” Well that definitely is true for the majority of the crowd, who was singing and dancing around as they walked to their cars.

Of course, there are some that were not that quite into it – me – but I can say I have great respect to the artists (acting, singing and dancing all at the same time, you have to be pretty good at it to pull it off), the musicians (I love the fact that at most musicals the music is played by a band of real musicians and not a tape), the crew etc. for the hard work that goes into a theatre musical.

Images taken from:
http://www.mamma-mia.com/

* Limited information is posted, as no collaboration was granted to themo by the venue and/or the event’s promotional/management company.

Tags: ABBA, Jason Hay-Southwell, mamma mia, musical, musicals, review, sign language, theatre, themo, themo.org, www.abbasite.com/, www.mamma-mia.com/