Set in present day on an island off the coast of Greece, “Mamma Mia” features youthful, bright-eyed and somewhat naïve 20-year-old Sophie Sheridan (Jenny Fellner) who is desperately looking for her real father. She has grown up almost her entire life on the island with her mother Donna (Dee Hoty), a strong-willed, single mother who owns a hotel on the island. Sophie is engaged to Sky, a local who has quit his career as an investment banker for the simplicity of island life. Three months before her wedding, Sophie sends invitations to her possible fathers – men she had found in her mother’s diary entries from 1979, the summer when Sophie had been conceived. Her dream: to have her real father walk her down the aisle.
Just one day before the wedding, chaos erupts on the island with the arrival of three unsuspecting men: Sam Carmichael (John Hillner), Harry Bright (Michael Winther) and Bill Austin (Adam LeFevre). They meet with Sophie, who warns them not to tell Donna that she had invited them to the wedding. Donna is naturally upset by the sudden appearance of her three old flames, and later that night she discovers it was Sophie who had contacted her ex-lovers. Donna is dismayed that Sophie felt the need to contact her “father” after all she had done to raise her independently, not to her embarrassment considering even she doesn’t know who Sophie’s real father is.
To all the ladies out there: if you see one play this year, make sure its “Mamma Mia!” Scenes with Donna and her life-long friends Rosie (Hariett D. Foy) and Tanya (Tamara Bernier) are classic. These forty-something women bring such life to the performance. Their friendship is so real and so relatable; it’s as though they’re all 20-years old again as they relive the old days (of being in a disco band) singing into hairdryers and brushes with brightly colors boas around their necks.
One hilarious character to look out for is Rosie (Hariett D. Foy). Without a doubt it is she who steals the show. With her loud voice, wild hair and eccentric mannerisms, Rosie will have you rolling on the floor laughing from her one-liners and physical comedy. If anything, the character of Rosie alone is enough for me to recommend this play.
Another aspect of the play that appeals to the ladies are the men. HELLO! I’ve seen a lot of plays, but nowhere have I seen so many attractive and well-built men on Broadway. Even I was saying “Mamma Mia!” Now, just to clarify, I’m not only talking about the three leading males; I’m talking about all of Sky’s bachelor friends.
Guys, even though play is geared more towards women, I think even you would get a kick out of Sky’s friends and their fiascos that take place the night before the wedding for Sky’s “last night of freedom.”
An interesting thing that I noticed in “Mamma Mia” was that although the men were svelte, the majority of the female leading roles were not sickeningly thin; instead they were more representative of all different body shapes of “real women.” That was something refreshing that stood out. Is “Mamma Mia” exploiting men? If they are, it’s about time!
The stage and costumes were also an excellent feature of the play. The scenery gives the viewer a sense of being on an exotic Greek isle, and the costumes are all very simple, typical island garb that one would associate with beach locales. It almost makes you feel like pulling out your sandals and shorts and going to the beach, until you realize you’re still in a heavily air conditioned Broadway theater.
The music by Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus features ABBA songs “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” and other songs, “The Winner Takes It All,” “Money, Money, Money,” “S.O.S,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You.”
Moreover, “Mamma Mia” is a must-see, if not for the male eye candy than for the hilarious characters and breath-taking music.
FUSA is sponsoring a trip to “Mamma Mia” on November 4, and tickets go on sale this Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the office of student activities.
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