BY ELLEN AXFORD
Mamma Mia, here we go again! Everyone’s favourite disco party has opened on the Gold Coast. I’ve never been to a production of Mamma Mia! where the audience wasn’t packed and this was no different. There was barely a spare seat in the 1,900+ seat house, which is a pretty good indication that 25 years on from its West End debut, there’s still something irresistible about ABBA, a Greek island and a very complicated paternity test.
As a seasoned ABBA and Mamma Mia! the Musical lover I knew exactly what I had come for. Thankfully, I found myself singing every lyric internally, anticipating the next line before it arrived and getting a little thrill every time a familiar riff started.
At the heart of this production was Erin Cornell as Donna, who showcased a vocally committed and heartfelt performance. Cornell’s chemistry with Chloe Rose Taylor as Tanya and Jo-Anne Jackson as Rosie really brought Donna and the Dynamos to life. Together, the three women brought warmth and laughs with their scenes among the biggest crowd-pleasers of the night.
Emily Monsma as Sophie Sheridan gave an abundance of sweetness with angelic vocals that captured Sophie’s hopeful, romantic view of the world. As her fiancé Sky, Samuel Allsop had a jovial, boyish energy, with his vocals complementing Monsma’s beautifully in Lay All Your Love on Me.
Matt Edwards as Sam Carmichael, Timothy Aaron Cooper as Harry Bright and Danny Folpp as Bill Austin each brought unique charm to their roles, giving Sophie’s three potential fathers distinct personalities, making her family mystery all the more entertaining.
And while everyone was well cast, Jackson was my personal standout of the night. Her comedic timing, delivery and physical comedy made Rosie impossible to look away from. Jackson has a natural ability to squeeze every last laugh out of a moment and her rich, powerful voice was just as effective in heightening the comedy while still showcasing her beautiful vocals.
And then there was The Winner Takes It All. There are plenty of big vocal moments throughout Mamma Mia!, but this is the song that demands the audience stop and listen. Cornell delivered the ballad with vocal power and the response from the audience said it all. The theatre erupted when the final note landed, making it a true highlight of the night.
Visually, the production matched its scale. The set was reminiscent of a Greek island, with multiple elements moving on and off stage through generally smooth transitions, while colourful costumes and plenty of sparkle made sure the production looked the part.
The ensemble is where this production really went big. With one of the largest casts I’ve seen in a Mamma Mia! production, the stage was packed with some of Southeast Queensland’s strongest performers and they brought an enormous amount of energy with them. Mamma Mia! might make singing ABBA look easy, but the harmonies are no walk in the park and the vocal demands were matched by choreography that rarely lets up. From the masc cast dancing in flippers and the femme cast flipping in sequins, the ensemble was a massive hype machine. At times when the large set was on, it felt like there were almost too many bodies on stage, but it was impossible to fault the enthusiasm.
I have always questioned the decision of professional Australian productions giving Donna and Sophie Australian accents. I found it pulled me out of the Mediterranean world a little, but this is not a criticism of their otherwise beautiful performance. There were also moments where dialogue delivery could have felt more natural and a handful of scene transitions that could have been better masked by ensemble movement but these were minor bumps in a production that never lost sight of the fun.
Because Mamma Mia! knows exactly what it is and, more importantly, exactly what its audience wants. Give us ABBA, give us dads in lycra, give us a few questionable romantic decisions and then launch some confetti and let us become Dancing Queens in the aisles during the Megamix.
Although, if you can’t resist singing along before you’re invited to get on your feet for the finale, don’t be surprised if an usher gently reminds you to tap your toes and save your vocals for later!
This strictly limited season of Mamma Mia! the Musical by The Very Popular Theatre Company at The Star Theatre on the Gold Coast must close on 20 September. Don’t miss out!
WHAT: Mamma Mia! the Musical by The Very Popular Theatre Company
WHEN: Until September 20
WHERE: The Star, Gold Coast
TICKETS: Get your tickets to Mamma Mia! the Musical here.
