On Theater: Spirited ‘Mamma Mia!’ worth catching on its last day
If you’ve missed the musical “Mamma Mia!” the first, second or third time it visited the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, you can bid goodbye to the ABBA-created bonbon at today’s final matinee performance.
And you’ll probably have plenty of company. Opening night at the Costa Mesa venue drew a large, enthusiastic crowd to this simplistic yet highly enjoyable production, billed as its “farewell tour” after a decade of entertaining audiences. It’s a rollicking rendition of the by-now-familiar story of past and present love set to the tune of ABBA melodies.
Basing a musical comedy on existing songs from a particular artist is nothing new, of course. Gene Kelly and Vincente Minnelli did it to Oscar glory in 1951 when they fit the Gershwin brothers’ music into “An American in Paris.” And more recently, the show “All Shook Up” borrowed hit songs from the Elvis Presley archives to further its action.
For “Mamma Mia!,” playwright Catherine Johnson used the familiar (and not so familiar) music of ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaelis for their merry tale of a middle-aged lady who runs a resort on a Greek island and whose daughter is about to wed. Trouble is, the girl isn’t sure who her father really is, so she invites the three top contenders — who all show up, of course.
Using this recipe, director Phyllida Lloyd and choreographer Anthony Van Laast have come up with a beautifully bouncy show, stitched together by an excellent ensemble that refuses to go away even after the final curtain call. Soak it up and make it last a while if this really is the farewell tour.
Heading the cast in the apparent title role is Betsy Padamonsky, a liberated lady preparing her daughter (a sweet, peppery Lizzie Markson) for matrimony. She’s invited the backup singers from her old musical act, and they really steal the show.
Cashelle Butler is memorable as the statuesque Tanya, who mixes with the younger crowd quite effectively. More reserved is the “normal” Rosie (Sarah Smith), who tosses decorum to the winds in pursuit of romance.
The three suspects are an architect (Shai Yammanee), a writer (Marc Cornes) and a musician (Andrew Tebo), all of whom contribute enthusiastically to the tangled plot web. Most playgoers will know who the likely daddy is, but that doesn’t spoil the enjoyment.
The ABBA songs are woven almost seamlessly into the action, with top honors going to Padamonsky’s rendition of “The Winner Takes It All” as her response to the fanning of an old flame. The three ladies break out their old glitz and glitter for “Super Trooper” and don more standard duds for the score’s biggest hit, “Dancing Queen.”
The second act opens with a fierce “Under Attack,” accompanying the daughter’s fervently crazy dream. Markson’s tender “I Have a Dream” begins and ends the show on a tender note.
Whether or not this production is the farewell tour, it should be experienced, and today is the last chance.
IF YOU GO
What: “Mamma Mia!”
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: Closing performance at 2 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $58 to $207
Information: (714) 556-2787
