Mamma Mia! Tickets:35 recommendations
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Smash hit musical based on the hits of Abba
About Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia!, now in its ninth year in the West End, has enjoyed little less than phenomenal success around the world, currently playing London, New York, Las Vegas, Berlin, Essen, Barcelona, Moscow, as well as US and International tours.
The brainchild of playwright Catherine Johnson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have also been actively involved in the production and musical arrangement, and the show enjoyed substantial financial backing from Abba brunette Frida Lyngstad-Reuss, so from its inception, Mamma Mia! was met with unanimous approval from the many millions of Abba fans around the world.
With Bjorn and Benny on hand to help with the music, Mamma Mia! marked the first time since Abba’s last live performance in 1981 that the famously intricate arrangements have been recreated faithfully and the show’s Swedish premiere in February 2005 was the first time all four Abba members were present at the same public event since 1986 causing thousands of fans from all over the world to besiege Stockholm’s Cirkus theatre.
With no chance of an Abba reunion ever happening, Mamma Mia! is the group’s main connection with their still adoring public, making a ticket for the show a necessity for every Abba fan.
However, Mamma Mia! is by no means a show just for Abba fans; unlike We Will Rock You with its blatant and numerous references to Queen, Abba themselves play no part in the show’s plot. Even if you don’t think you like Abba’s songs, the music is presented in a way far removed from its 1970’s pop origins.
The mood and the lyrics of each number perfectly suit their contexts and drive the plot as well as they would if they had been written especially for the show. The touching and hilarious storyline by Catherine Johnson could stand up as a play on its own but paired with the timeless music of Abba, Mamma Mia! undeniably lives up to its status as a must-see show, the musical Abba didn’t know they’d written.
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Reviews
An Irresistibly Enjoyable Hit!
Catherine Johnson\'s witty and ingenious script weaves the famous Abba songs around characters you care about. At the end the whole audience is on its feet and swaying blissfully along to the hits. What a pleasure to see that girl, watch that scene and dig the Dancing Queen. SHEER HEAVEN!
The Feel Good Factor of a Greek Island Holiday
Much of the fun of Mamma Mia! is in guessing in which order the ABBA songs will pop up and in admiring the ingenuity of Catherine Johnson’s book. Phyllida Lloyd’s production and Mark Thompson’s design provide value-added class. IT’S PRETTY IRRESISTIBLE!
Thank You for the Musical!
A lot of skill and theatrical cunning has gone into this show. The fun lies in the brilliance and wit with which the songs are fitted into the story, not just as decorations, but moving it along, almost as if they had been written for it. AUDIENCES RISE TO MAMMA MIA! LIKE A THUNDERSTORM.
