Incorporating ABBA’s catalogue into an original story, Mamma Mia became the blueprint of jukebox musicals as we know them to the point that we’re still seeing shows take inspiration from it today. I don’t believe in gatekeeping or generalising a whole genre as we should be introducing diverse audiences to theatre, but we need to acknowledge its reputation by some as one of *those* musicals – the kind that attracts a certain crowd that disrespects everyone around them by drunkenly singing along thinking the ABBA songs are an invitation to do karaoke.
With ABBA Voyage being a smash-hit, a third film in development, the recent TV talent show finding Mamma Mia’s newest Sophie and Sky in time for its 25th anniversary, ABBA fever is still in full force in the UK. With that said, how does Mamma Mia translate into German? And yes, I’ll be revealing all my thoughts on the show in this review.
Mamma Mia
Cast
- Donna: Jennifer van Brenk (u/s)
- Sophie: Rose Anne van Elswijk
- Tanya: Florence Kasumba
- Rosie: Natasha Cecilia Hill (u/s)
- Sam: John Vooijs
- Bill: Mathias Edenborn
- Harry: Detlef Leistenschneider
- Sky: Jan Nicolas Bastel
Rating: ★★★
What’s Mamma Mia about?
For the few who don’t know the plot of Mamma Mia, it follows single mother Donna running a hotel in Greece with her 20 year-old daughter Sophie. Soon to be married to her fiancé Sky, Sophie discovers she has three possible fathers after finding Donna’s diary. Inviting all three to her wedding, both Sophie and Donna try figuring out what to do as many hijinks ensue.
What are my thoughts on Mamma Mia?
I can feel everyone’s frustration screaming “TAKE A DNA TEST” when it comes to resolving the plot’s catalyst over Sophie figuring out which of her three possible baby daddies is her biological father, but people tend to forget that’s not what Mamma Mia is actually about. Outside of the camp, ABBA songs and somewhat ridiculous premise, it’s about finding your identity outside of where everyone else tells you it comes from. Having said that, that’s not to say that the plot is the most innovative or thought-provoking one I’ve seen.
My relationship with Mamma Mia has been very marmite over the years, but now I’ve come to a point where I’m more forgiving towards it to the point it’s now a guilty pleasure. Why? The difference between Mamma Mia and the many imitators that have followed are 1) It knows what it’s doing and doesn’t try being anything else, 2) there’s real heart through the mother/daughter relationship between Sophie and Donna, and 3) Many of ABBA’s songs feature personal lyrics that lend themselves to a narrative.
While it features a sunny Grecian set and fun crowd-pleasers such as Dancing Queen, Voulez Vous and Super Trouper, my issue is it sometimes pushes the limit of what songs to shoehorn in that the plot can work around, especially come act two. With the pacing dragging to the point we get three songs in a row all in Donna’s bedroom, sometimes it felt frustrating seeing the show suddenly stop when it should’ve been getting on with the admittedly underbaked story.
What’s the cast like?
I saw alternate Jennifer van Brenk as Donna who previously played Tanya in this production, and I thought she was phenomenal. The relateable and frenzied reactions to the hijinks made her so endearing to watch while bringing powerful vocals to numbers like The Winner Takes It All. Rose Anne van Elswijk made Sophie’s arc engaging and had equally as beautiful vocals. Marvel star Florence Kasumba was a whole mood as Tanya that I absolutely loved with her deadpan line delivery and hilarious riffs that garnered applause. Cover Natasha Cecilia Hill was Rosie, a far cry from the often typecast “funny fat friend” (something that doesn’t sit right with me) brought a refreshing approach as more socially awkward.
The three possible dads brought their own humour to their characters with John Voodjis as straight-laced Sam (and vocals light years better than Pierce Brosnan’s) Matthias Edenborn as free-spirited adventurer Bill, and Detlef Leistenschneider as Harry ‘Headbanger.’
What are my overall thoughts?
Whether you’re in London or Germany, it’s guaranteed you’re going to have a fun and silly time watching Mamma Mia. Is the story good? Not really. But if you switch your brain off, you get feel-good show with amazing performances singing ABBA’s greatest hits. It may surprise some that Mamma Mia’s shown no signs of slowing down after 25 years, but if it continues to attract generations of theatregoers through the power of ABBA, more power to it. All I’d say is try and be more like the Hamburg audience I was with by dialing back on the singing and not coming into the theatre drunk as a sailor.
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