Mamma Mia! A Critique
Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ Mamma Mia! was the first musical that I have ever watched and it was one of the most exciting entertainment that I have ever experienced. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus have integrated their beloved lyrics and music to create a wedding musical about young love and love lost. The musical is set on a tiny Greek island where young Sophie, the bride, has invited three of her mother’s (Donna) ex-lovers in order to determine which one of the men is her biological father. It is a simple love story with well-developed characters despite the fact that the real spotlight of this musical is the music and lyrics of ABBA. . . .
It is amazing how these twenty songs were logically linked together to create the most meaningful dialogue of the musical. All the songs that were chosen clearly communicated to the audience the thoughts and feelings of the characters. The lighting added depth to the musical as it moved the audience from morning to evening and brought the audience closer to the actors on the stage. It is the simple things which bring joy to our lives. The musical scenes were set in the courtyard of the inn, a bedroom, or on a dock leading out to the Mediterranean. ” The set designs centered around the inn that Donna runs and where Sophie wedding would take place. Some audience who did not grow up listening to ABBA may find the musical cheesy and simple-minded. Mark Thompson, who was responsible for the production design, succeeded in creating the perfect atmosphere. My response to them is “get over it. Whether you laugh at it or laugh with it, there is no doubt that this was a cleverly made musical play. The simplicity of the set and the costumes all went along the theme of showcasing the music of ABBA. a modern proscenium-stage theater, is the perfect venue for this musical. For the encore, the spotlight turned to the audience in order to engage it in joining the cast in singing and dancing to the forever popular “Dancing Queen” and the musical title, “Mama Mia. The cool blue tone lighting designed by Howard Harrison brought to live the atmosphere of sitting on a Greek island surrounded by the ocean.
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