Mamma Mia!, the smash hit musical comedy, about mothers, daughters, old friends, and new family, based on the songs of Swedish super-group ABBA is on stage at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge.
The Drayton Entertainment, performance is the Canadian regional premiere, following the production’s 14-year run on Broadway.
Mamma Mia! runs until May 7, before transferring to the Drayton Festival Theatre where it will play from May 12 to 28.
“Mamma Mia! is packed with unbridled energy and enthusiasm and we are thrilled to finally share our version of this iconic musical with audiences in Cambridge,” said Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment in a press release.
Mamma Mia! tells the story of Donna, an independent, single mother who is about to give away Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone on an idyllic Greek island.
For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited two girlfriends to celebrate, but Sophie has secretly invited guests of her own – three men from Donna’s past … in the hopes that one of them will be the father she’s never known. Over 24 chaotic hours, new love blooms and old romances are rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.
Blythe Wilson is the star of the show as Donna, the former lead singer of a ’70s girl group and free spirit who now runs a tourist villa on the island.
Wilson, who has graced multiple Broadway stages, delivers a powerhouse performance showing off her voice in lively numbers like Money, Money Money, sentimental songs like Slipping Through My Fingers and The Winner Takes It All.
Danielle Wade is both winsome and strong-willed as Donna’s daughter Sophie. Wade balances both the girlish wonder and fervent excitement of a young bride-to-be. Her strong yet effortlessly sweet voice shines throughout the production, most notably in Honey, Honey and I Have a Dream.
Jackie Mustakas and Jenni Burke are funny and lovable as Donna’s best girlfriends from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos.
Matt Palmer, Mark Harapiak and Michael Killinger are each charming in their own way as the trio of bemused, middle-aged potential dads.
Colin Sheen exudes boyish charm as Sophie’s fiancé Sky. He’s got all the right stuff to make hearts race as he and his goofball buddies Pepper and Eddie (played with youthful gusto by Sam DiGiuseppe and Stephan Dickson), gallivant around the island dancing in scuba gear and relishing the perpetual bachelor party.
Director and choreographer David Connolly leads this grand scale mega musical and succeeds in mounting a production that dances, jives and lives up to the hype.
Credited with such past Drayton Entertainment hits as Legally Blonde, Disney’s High School Musical, and the pantos Peter Pan, Snow White and Aladdin, Connolly keeps this jubilant musical moving, balancing high-octane dance numbers with more intimate songs to propel the heartwarming story.
Music director Steve Thomas guides a superbly talented band through ABBA’s famous song catalogue including all the catchy dance tunes and touching ballads that fans have come to love.
Tickets are $44 for adults and $26 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for groups of 20 or more are $36. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at the box office, or by calling toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
