Judging from the sunny dispositions and raucous enthusiasm of the cast, "Mamma Mia!" must be just as much to perform as it is to watch. The combination of the feel-good song and dance numbers, upbeat story and head-bopping, toe-tapping rhythms make the musical feel like an interactive wedding dance in which everyone on the floor has had just the right amount to drink.
The 1999 jukebox musical, which embraces ABBA music via" Catherine Johnson's book, doesn't so much tour the nation as it does bounce from city to city, bringing its sense of unbridled joy intertwined with its cultural touchstone numbers. The iconic songs in the film have managed to touch several generations, granting each a sense of giddy nostalgia.
The show would be insanely fun even if this were a community theater production, but the considerable talent in the cast manages to make it more than even the impressive sum of its parts. The show's shining star is Christina Merrill as Donna, the mother of a bride-to-be looking to discover the identity of her father. A veteran of the long-running Las Vegas residency of the show, she belts out tunes with the operatic gusto of a diva, captivating the audience with wildly confident, iron-lunged flourishes that leave no question as to the depths of her talents.
Amy Weaver lends a bouncy enthusiasm to Sophie, Donna's daughter, who's set herself on the quixotic quest. Blake Price, Jim Newman and Victor Wallace contribute impressive turns as Donna's three former flings, all whom Sophie believes could be her father. A game ensemble cast executes energetic, athletic choreography, which prioritizes explosive outbursts of enthusiasm over lockstep precision.
"Mamma Mia!" flies by like a summer breeze, with a continuous succession of ABBA bangers that hardly lets you pause for breath, much less gather yourself to grant each its proper applause. Working in front of spare sets, the magnetism of the actors brings the characters to vivid prominence in ways the film adaptation couldn't quite execute. Live theater, ideally with a top-flight cast such as this, surrounded by fans appreciating the spectacle like a raucous rock concert crowd, is the only way to truly feel this show's groove.
From the rafters, this show screams "take a chance on me!" And it would be foolish to disobey. "Mamma Mia!" is too much fun to pass up.
"Mamma Mia plays" at Centennial Hall through May 25. Buy tickets here.
