I first saw Mamma Mia! in Manchester in 2007, a month before it was to make its Middle East debut in Dubai. I remember being blown away by the performances, and just how good Abba songs still sounded so many years later. I remember getting caught up in the music, dancing and grooving to Waterloo and Dancing Queen, along with the actors, and being slightly disappointed when the Dubai audience didn’t get up and start dancing down the aisle towards the end when the musical turns into a full-on concert. And oh, I hated the movie version, especially Pierce Brosnan’s singing. But I digress.
Set on a Greek island, we are first introduced to 20-year-old Sophie. She’s about to get married, but a few weeks before her big day, she sets out to find the answer to a question that’s been troubling her all her life: Who’s her real father? That question triggers a series of incidents that lead to the arrival of three men, turning her mother Donna’s idyllic life upside down. That, and the arrival of friends and family for the wedding lead to many opportunities for a few songs and dances — 23 to be precise — from Abba’s rich repertoire, cleverly woven into the story. The result: A burst of colour, great choreography and amazing vocals, especially by the leads, for two and a half hours. Sarah Poyzer, who plays Donna, and Niamh Perry, who plays her daughter Sophie, do much of the heavy lifting, and deserve a special mention.
The beauty of Mamma Mia!, besides the iconic tunes, is that it’s a story for the ages. Writer Catherine Johnson has woven a tale that’s clicked with different generations: There’s the story of the older group as Donna and her friends reunite and as she relives her past with the three men she once loved. Then there’s the younger bunch as Sophie and her fiance Sky are tested in their relationship before they embark on a life together. That’s probably why it’s still such a hit 15 years on.
The format hasn’t changed, although there’s now a scene where the wedding party get together for a selfie, but the cast is different, normal for a show that’s been around for so long. I can assure you, Mamma Mia! is still as fun.
Like the last time, the Dubai audience was restrained in their appreciation. Although judging from the cheers, it was evident many enjoyed the show. But I wish we’d let it go a bit. For a spectacle that’s full of sequined jumpsuits and disco beats, set to songs loved by our parents and grandparents and now us, there’s only one way to show our love: To get up, dance and say: ‘Thank you for the music’.
