Mamma Mia!

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This article is about the stage musical. For the film, see Mamma Mia! (film). For the song, see Mamma Mia (song). For other uses, see Mamma Mia.
Mamma Mia!
Prince of Wales Theatre 01.jpg
Mamma Mia! at the
Prince of Wales Theatre, the current venue for Mamma Mia! in London
Music Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Lyrics Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Book Catherine Johnson
Basis ABBA jukebox musical
Productions 1999 West End
2000 Toronto
2001 Los Angeles and Chicago
2001 Broadway
2001 Australasian Tour
2002 U.S. Tour

Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical with a book by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. It was an early example of the jukebox musical genre and helped to popularize the form. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper Mamma Mia, the plot is fictional, not biographical.

Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who composed the original music for ABBA, were involved in the development of the show from the beginning. Anni-Frid Lyngstad has been involved financially in the production and she has also been present at many of the premieres around the world.

The musical includes such hits as "Super Trouper", "I Have A Dream", "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Take A Chance On Me", "Thank You for the Music", "Money, Money, Money", "The Winner Takes It All", "Voulez Vous" and "SOS". It had been seen by over ten million people worldwide as of July 2003.[1] Estimates in 2007 bring the number to 30 million.[citation needed] Since its opening in 1999, the production has grossed US $2.0 billion in earnings.[2]

A film adaptation, Mamma Mia! The Movie, starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters was released in July 2008.

Contents

[edit] Background

The original home of Mamma Mia! The Prince Edward Theatre

Mamma Mia! is based on the songs of ABBA. ABBA was a Swedish pop/dance group active from 1972–1982 and was one of the most internationally popular pop groups of all time, topping the charts again and again in Europe, North America and Australia. Following the premiere of the musical in London in 1999, ABBA Gold topped the charts in the United Kingdom again. This musical was the brain child of producer Judy Craymer. She met songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson in 1983 when they were working with Tim Rice on Chess.[3] It was the song "The Winner Takes It All" that suggested to her the theatrical potential of their pop songs.[4] The songwriters were not enthusiastic, but they were not completely opposed to the idea.[4]

In 1997, Craymer commissioned Catherine Johnson to write the book for the musical,[4] which is based on the 1968 film Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell.[5] and similar to the Russian movie Sympathy Seeker. In 1998, Phyllida Lloyd became the director for the show.[4] It is unusual for three women to form the collaboratiion behind a commercial success in musical theatre.[4]

[edit] Productions

The musical opened in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999 and transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre on 9 June 2004, where it is playing as of 6 February 2010. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, the original cast featured Shiobhan McCarthy, Lisa Stokke, and Hilton McRae.[6][7]

It opened in Toronto at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on 23 May 2000, directed by Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, with the production designed by Mark Thompson and lighting by Howard Harrison. It closed on 22 May 2005.[8][9]

Prior to the musical's Broadway engagement, it made its US debut in San Francisco, California at the Orpheum Theatre from 17 November 2000 to 17 February 2001,[10][11]moving next to Los Angeles, California at the Shubert Theatre from 26 February 2001 to 12 May 2001[12], and finally to Chicago, Illinois at the Cadillac Palace from 13 May 2001 to 12 August 2001.[13] The musical opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on 18 October 2001 and is currently running, as of February 6, 2010. The director is Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast.

In the United States, Mamma Mia! played in Las Vegas, opening at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in February 2003 and closing on January 4, 2009.[14][15] In June 2005, Mamma Mia! played its 1000th performance in Las Vegas, becoming the longest running West End/Broadway musical in Las Vegas.[1]

Tours

Mamma Mia! is touring in North America, Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, and Spain.[16] The US tour started in in Providence, Rhode Island in 2002, and has since played more than 120 cities as of its 6th anniversary in 2008.[17]

Other Countries

The musical has played in Austria, Denmark, Liverpool, Mexico, The Republic of Irelend, Serbia, and Switzerland.[16]

Cirkus in Stockholm

As of 2008, the musical has been performed in eleven languages: English, German, Norwegian, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, Spanish, a mix between Catalan and Spanish, Swedish and Russian. It has spawned productions around the world including Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Belgian, Dutch, British, Irish, French, Monégasque, Austrian, German, Swiss, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovak, Greek, Canadian, American, Mexican, Russian, Israeli, Lebanese, Qatari, Turkish, Emirati, Chinese, Hong Konger, South Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, Singaporean, South African, Australian, and New Zealander productions.

Lone van Roosendaal has played Donna in three different countries and in three different languages: English, Dutch (understudy) and German. She will be playing the part of Donna in the tour of Mamma Mia! in the Netherlands.[18] Jackie Clune plays Donna in the International Tour cast.[19]

[edit] Synopsis

Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York City

[edit] Act I

The story takes place on a Greek island (Calicos). Sophie, a 20-year old girl, is preparing to marry her fiancé, Sky. She wants her father to walk her down the aisle, ("Prologue: I Have a Dream") but doesn't know who he is. Sophie discovers her mother's old diary and finds entries which describe intimate dates with three men (Sam Carmichael, Bill Andersson, and Harry Bright) ("Honey, Honey"). Sophie believes that one of these men is her father and, three months prior to the wedding, sends each an invitation to her wedding writing as her mother, Donna, without letting her know.

The day before the wedding, Donna begins receiving guests at her taverna. The first to arrive are her old best friends, Tanya, a rich woman who has been married and divorced three times, and Rosie, an unmarried, carefree woman. The trio used to be a girl group called Donna and The Dynamos. The three women catch up and talk about how their lives have been ("Money, Money, Money").

Later that day, Sophie's three possible fathers arrive: Sam (an American architect), Harry (a British banker), and Bill (a Swedish writer and adventurer). Sophie convinces them not to tell Donna that she invited them ("Thank You for the Music"). Donna walks into the taverna just as Sophie walks out, and is surprised to see her ex-lovers ("Mamma Mia"). She runs to her room in tears.

Tanya and Rosie are in their room, unpacking their luggage when Donna comes into the room in hysterics. She explains what's wrong, and they cheer her up, ("Chiquitita"). Tanya and Rosie try to convince Donna that she can still be the girl that she once was ("Dancing Queen").

Sophie had hoped that she would know her father the moment she saw him, but is now only confused. She tries to tell her fiancé, Sky, how she feels without confessing what she has done. Sky tells her that he will be the only man she ever needs ("Lay All Your Love on Me"). They then part for their respective pre-wedding parties.

At Sophie's hen night, Donna and The Dynamos don their old costumes and perform a song, ("Super Trouper"). Sam, Bill and Harry accidentally walk in on the party, but the guests persuade them to stay, ("Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"). Sophie first pulls Sam out of the room to talk to him. After he asks why he is here, she is overcome with guilt, and goes to talk to Harry instead. But Harry asks if Sophie's father is at the party, and she tells him the whole truth. Lastly, she draws Bill aside to talk with him. She learns that Bill has an aunt Sophia who left all her money to Donna's family. Bill learns that Donna built the taverna with money she inherited from a friend she lived with when Sophie was a baby- that friend was Bill's aunt. They both realize that he is probably her father.

Sophie finds Bill outside on the boat dock. He says he needed to get some air. Sophie asks him to walk her down the aisle. Bill wants to discuss it first with Donna. This has been her secret after all. But no one knows yet that even Donna does not know who the father is, because she slept with the three men in such swift succession. Sophie insists that they must not tell Donna anything, ("The Name of the Game") and finally, Bill agrees.

Afterward, everybody crashes the hen party (including the boys from the stag party). During the dance, Sam pulls Sophie aside and tells her that he has figured out why she invited him. He knows that he is her father, and promises to walk her down the aisle the next day. Sophie is speechless. Then, Harry approaches Sophie apologizing for being so slow on the uptake, and he is also convinced that she's his daughter and promises to walk her down the aisle tomorrow. Sophie leaves the party, hopelessly confused; she doesn't want to turn any of them down ("Voulez-Vous").

[edit] Act II

(Entr'acte) The 2nd act opens with Sophie having a nightmare that night, involving her three possible fathers all fighting for the right to walk her down the aisle and wakes up despairing ("Under Attack").

Mamma Mia! at Broadway On Broadway

Donna finds Sophie in the taverna, where she had supposedly sleepwalked. She is upset. Donna assumes that Sophie wants to cancel the wedding and offers to handle all the details. Sophie is offended and vows that her children will not grow up not knowing who their father is. As Sophie storms out of the room, Sam enters and tries to tell Donna that Sophie may not be all she seems, but Donna will not listen, ("One of Us") - she hates Sam - at the end of their affair, she said she never wanted to see him again. But it seems that Sam was the man Donna cared about the most, and both of them wish they could go back to the start. ("SOS"').

At the beach, Harry asks Tanya what the father of the bride ought to be doing for Sophie's wedding. Tanya explains that for her part, her father gave her his advice and then paid. Pepper, one of the guys who works at Donna's taverna, makes advances to Tanya, but she rebuffs him ("Does Your Mother Know?").

Sky finds out what Sophie has done in inviting Sam, Harry and Bill to the wedding. He accuses her of wanting a big white wedding only so that she can find out who her father is. He is very hurt that she kept this plan a secret from him. He storms off just as Sam walks in. Sam tries to give Sophie some fatherly advice by describing his failed marriage ("Knowing Me, Knowing You"), but Sophie is not consoled.

Harry finds Donna in Sophie's room and offers to pay for the wedding. They reminisce about their fling ("Our Last Summer"). Sophie arrives and instead of Ali, Lisa and all the other girls, Donna helps her get dressed. She cannot believe her daughter is going to be a bride ("Slipping Through My Fingers"). Donna admits that her own mother disowned her when she learned that she was pregnant. They reconcile and Sophie asks her mother if she will walk her down the aisle. Sam arrives as Sophie leaves the room. He tries to speak to Donna again, but she does not want to see him, and asks him to leave. He refuses, and a bitter confrontation ensues. Donna tells Sam how he broke her heart, presumably when she found out he was engaged ("The Winner Takes It All"). It emerges that the two still love each other dearly, albeit against Donna's better judgment.

Rosie is making final preparations in the taverna when Bill arrives. He's upset because he has received a note that Donna will be walking Sophie down the aisle. Bill reaffirms his commitment to the single life, but Rosie has become attracted to him, and urges him to reconsider ("Take a Chance on Me"). They are about to have sex in the taverna, but the guests arrive, leaving Rosie quite stunned.

The wedding begins, with Donna walking Sophie down the aisle. Before the priest has a chance to begin the ceremonies, Donna acknowledges to everyone that Sophie's father is present. Sophie tells her mother that she knows about her father. Donna realizes that Sophie invited them to the wedding for that very reason. The issue of Sophie's parentage is left unsettled, as none of them have any idea whether they are actually her father; everyone involved agrees that it does not matter which one of them her biological parent is, as Sophie loves all three and they are all happy to be "one-third of a father" and a part of her life at last. Finally, Harry, who has made frequent references to his "other half" throughout the show, is revealed to be in a committed gay relationship with a man named Laurence (Nigel or George in some productions and Peter in the Russian version). Suddenly, Sophie calls a halt to the proceedings. She is not ready to get married and Sky agrees with Sophie about not getting married. Sam seizes his chance and proposes to Donna in order to prevent the wedding preparations from going to waste. He explains that he loved her, even when he left to get married. It is revealed that he called off the wedding with his fiancée and came back to the island, only to be told that Donna was going out with another man (Bill). He went back, married his fiancée and had kids. However,sooner or later, he got divorced. Surprisingly, Donna accepts, ("I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"). In the end, Sam and Donna are married, and at the end of the night, Sophie and Sky depart on a round-the-world tour ("I Have A Dream").

(Finale and bonus). After the usual performers' bows and greetings to the audience, the cast performs the following songs altogether: "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia", and "Waterloo", featuring Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Sam, Bill, and Harry in ABBA-inspired costumes.

[edit] Musical numbers

Main article: Mamma Mia! Original Cast Recording
Act I
Act II

Notes on the music
During the preview period in London, the musical had the song "Summer Night City" just after the prologue. The "Summer Night City" scene was a wedding rehearsal and during the song, Ali, Lisa, Tanya, and Rosie arrived on the island. Now, part of the song is used as underscoring to connect the end of "The Winner Takes It All" and "Take a Chance on Me". You can also hear a couple of lines of "Summer Night City" in the 'Entr'acte' (the most noticeable line is: 'Time to breathe and time to live').

Donna hums a few lines of "Fernando", when she repairs the doors of the taverna just before she sees her three former lovers.

In the Swedish production, Sky (named Tom in Sweden) sang a few lines of "King Kong Song" before starting "Lay All Your Love on Me".

The wedding march that is played as Sophie walks down the aisle is a slower arrangement of "Dancing Queen".

The creators also intended to include "Just Like That", an unreleased ABBA song recorded in 1982. The song was apparently dropped just before the first public previews in March 1999, though it was listed in the program available during the preview period.

The last three songs, performed as an encore/finale by the whole cast are: "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Waterloo" (Donna, Tanya, and Rosie wear the ABBA's 70's colorful and flashy costumes). This scene also sometimes has Sky and Sophie also wearing the ABBA-inspired costumes.

[edit] Principal roles and cast

Character Original London Cast [20] Original Broadway Cast[21] Original Dutch cast Current London Cast Current Broadway Cast Current México Cast
Donna Siobhán McCarthy Louise Pitre Simone Kleinsma Sally Ann Triplett Beth Leavel Rocío Banquells
Rosie Jenny Galloway Judy Kaye Doris Baaten Katy Secombe Allison Briner Anahí Allué
Tanya Louise Plowright Karen Mason Ellen Evers Jane Gurnett Judy McLane María Fillipini
Sam Carmichael Hilton McRae David W. Keeley Hajo Bruins Norman Bowman John Dossett Paco Morales
Bill Austin Nicolas Colicos Ken Marks Filip Bolluyt Christopher Hollis Patrick Boll Damian López
Harry Bright Paul Clarkson Dean Nolen Jon van Eerd Paul Ryan David Andrew Macdonald
Sophie Lisa Stokke Tina Maddigan Celine Purcell Niamh Perry Alyse Alan Louis Gloria Aura
Sky Andrew Langtree Joe Machota Oren Schrijver Oliver J. Hembrough Eric William Morris Carlos Rivera

[edit] Film adaptation

Main article: Mamma Mia! (film)

Mamma Mia! was adapted as a film, with Phyllida Lloyd as director and with Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson as executive producers. Meryl Streep stars as Donna Sheridan and Amanda Seyfried as Sophie and Pierce Brosnan as Sam Carmichael. The movie also features Christine Baranski, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters. It premiered July 18, 2008 in the US. Most of the songs remained intact with the exceptions of "Under Attack", "One of Us", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and "Thank You for the Music". "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was used as the wedding music and "Thank You for the Music" is sung during the second half of the end credits. The first half is occupied with a "Dancing Queen" reprise and "Waterloo". "When All Is Said and Done", a song not used in the musical, was added for the film sung by Sam, Donna, and the company. "Our Last Summer" was used earlier in the movie, with Sophie, Bill, Sam, and Harry singing it.

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] Response

Box office and business

On May 15, 2005, Mamma Mia! surpassed the original Broadway runs of The Sound of Music, The King and I, and Damn Yankees with 1,500 performances.[1] As of August 19, 2009, it is the 13th longest running Broadway musical of all time with 2,343 performances. [22] As of January 2008 "Mamma Mia!" became the longest daily running show in the history of Russian theatre.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Craymer, Judy; Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (2006). Mamma Mia! How Can I Resist You?. Littlestar Services Ltd. ISBN 0297844210. 
  2. ^ Mamma Mia! is the world's most successful musical evercanada.com
  3. ^ Craymer, Judy (October 2005), "A Truly Original Musical", souvenir brochure .
  4. ^ a b c d e Craymer, Judy (October 2005), "A Truly Original Musical", souvenir brochure .
  5. ^ [1]Time Magazine
  6. ^ 'Mamma Mia' listinglondon-theatreland.co.uk, accessed February 6, 2010
  7. ^ " 'Mamma Mia!' review",Billboard, April 10, 1999, accessed February 7, 2010
  8. ^ (no author)."Toronto review"talkinbroadway.com, accessed February 6, 2010
  9. ^ Mamma Mia! Toronto listingbroadwayworld.com, accessed February 6, 2010
  10. ^ Winn, Steven. "Mamma's' a guilty pleasure for ABBA fans despite its weaknesses", The San Francisco Chronicle, November 18, 2000, p. B1
  11. ^ (no author). "TIME OUT; Fyi", Contra Costa Times (California), December 30, 2000, p.D01
  12. ^ Welsh, Anne Marie. "Pop musical takes a chance on Abba, and it works", The San Diego Union-Tribune, March 1, 2001, p. E2
  13. ^ (no author). "B.O. off; 'Monty' suits up", Variety, LEGIT GROSSES; Road; June 4, 2001 - June 10, 2001, p.30
  14. ^ Weatherford, Mike. "Musical 'Mamma Mia!' rate high in camp value", Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada), February 21, 2003, p.4J
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew."Vegas Mamma Mia!, with Johnson, Extends to January 2009"playbill.com, January 7, 2008
  16. ^ a b http://www.mamma-mia.com/storySynopsis.asp Official Site]mamma-mia.com, accessed February 6, 2010
  17. ^ BWW News Desk." 'Mamma Mia!' US Tour Hits 2500th Show Tonight"broadwayworld.com, February 27, 2008
  18. ^ MAMMA MIA! RETURNS TO HOLLAND (partial reference)mamma-mia.com (news), ca. June 2009, accessed February 7, 2010
  19. ^ "International Tour Cast"mamma-mia.com (inttourcast), accessed February 7, 2010
  20. ^ http://www.playbillstore.com/mammamiacd.html
  21. ^ http://www.ibdb.com
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew (2008-09-04). "Mamma Mia! to Become 16th-Longest Running Show on Broadway". Playbill, Inc.. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120976.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08. 

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
ABBA
Agnetha Fältskog · Björn Ulvaeus · Benny Andersson · Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
"People Need Love" · "He Is Your Brother" · "Ring Ring" · "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" · "Waterloo" · "Honey, Honey" · "So Long" · "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" · "SOS" · "Mamma Mia" · "Fernando" · "Dancing Queen" · "Money, Money, Money" · "Knowing Me, Knowing You" · "The Name of the Game" · "Take a Chance on Me" · "Eagle" · "Summer Night City" · "Chiquitita" · "Does Your Mother Know" · "Voulez-Vous" · "Angeleyes" · "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" · "I Have a Dream" · "The Winner Takes It All" · "On and On and On" · "Super Trouper" · "Lay All Your Love on Me" · "One of Us" · "When All is Said and Done" · "Head Over Heels" · "The Visitors" · "The Day Before You Came" · "Under Attack" · "Thank You for the Music"
Other songs
Related articles
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