Detroit — “Mamma Mia!” hits the Fisher Theater in Detroit from now through April 28. This smash-hit sensation is based on the book by Catherine Johnson with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.
Mamma Mia!, the musical, begins on this beautiful Greek island where Sophie (Alisa Melendez) is preparing for her wedding to Sky (Grant Reynolds). She reads her mother’s diary, Donna ( played by Christine Sherrill) and finds out intimate details of three men who could be her father. Sam (Victor Wallace), Bill (Jim Newman) and Harry (Rob Marnell). Sophie believes one of these men could be her father and wants him to walk her down the aisle. Three months in advance of the nuptials, she sends each an invitation and signs her mother’s name without her mother knowing about it. All three men accept the invitation.
Donna owns a taverna (guesthouse) on the island and first to arrive are her two best girlfriends who were in a band called “Donna and the Dynamos” back in the 1970’s.
During this time, Sophie gets to know the three men trying to figure out which one is her father. However, Sam pulls Sophie aside and tells her he’s her father and wants to walk her down the aisle. Bill tells her that his Aunt Sophia left Donna all her money to build the Taverna. Now they both think HE’s the father. Harry is also convinced he’s the father and promises to walk her down the aisle. By this time, Sophie is more confused than ever.
Act two begins when Sophie has a nightmare where all three men fight over walking her down the aisle. Sky finds out that she wants a big wedding just to find out which is her father. He becomes very hurt.
The wedding begins with Donna walking her down the aisle. Suddenly Sophie stops the wedding and decides she doesn’t want to get married after all. Sky agrees. Sam reveals to Donna that he got married long ago and got divorced but never really got over her. So in a turn of events, Sam marries Donna on the spot.
The musical lasted two hours and 35 minutes with a 15-minute intermission between the two acts. There was some smoke during certain parts of the performance. Mamma Mia has been playing on Broadway since 2001, the movie of the same name came out in 2008. How does it compare? It is very similar, I would say. If you haven’t seen Mamma Mia by now, what’s stopping you? The musical is great, the timeless ABBA songs are great and the dancing and choreography is fantastic. Some of the ABBA songs include: “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “The Winner Takes it All,” and “Mamma Mia”.
During the finale, the cast encourages the audience to clap, sing and dance to the more ABBA songs. What a feel-good show!
Schedule of “Mamma Mia!” performances:
- Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30 PM
- Sunday Evening at 6:30 PM
- Saturday matinee at 2:00 PM
- Sunday matinee at 1:00 PM
Tickets for the musical Mamma Mia! can be purchased at the Fisher Theater box office at 3011 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, Michigan, at ticketmaster or broadwayindetroit.com.
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