Juliette M. Ojeda and the Company (Photo by Joan Marcus)
Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Ahmanson Theatre
Through July 18
RECOMMENDED
Jalynn Steele, Carly Sakalove and Jessica Crouch (Photo by Joan Marcus)
All right, all you ABBA fans out there. Comes now this touring production of the record setting “jukebox musical”/romantic comedy, Mamma Mia!, celebrating its 25th anniversary at the Ahmanson Theatre under the show’s original director, Phyllida Lloyd. Even after thousands of performances, a 2008 movie, and an overload of familiarity with the music, the show hasn’t lost any of its appeal, judging from the audience’s response on opening night.
For the uninitiated, Catherine Johnson’s book (the music and lyrics are by Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus) tells the story of twenty-year-old Sophie Sheridan (Juliette M. Ojeda), whose uncertainty about the identity of her father prompts her to invite three of her mother’s former lovers to find out who daddy really is. But time before her upcoming nuptials to Sky (understudy Jason Mulay) is short, and she wants her father to walk her down the aisle. Also involved in Sophie’s scheme are gal pals Lisa (understudy Emma X. O’Laughlin and Ali (Maddie Garbaty).
Sophie’s free-spirited mom Donna (a dazzling Jessica Crouch), owns a taverna on a Greek island, so the sudden arrival of Sam (Victor Wallace), Harry (Rob Marnell) and Bill (Leland Burnett) is big news among the locals, and evokes some romantic stirrings in Donna, whose guest list for the wedding consists of her former bandmates Rosie (Carly Sakolove) and the coquettish Tanya (Jalynn Steele), a hilarious triad, to be sure, especially Steele.
Of course, what really gets the cheers in this show are the much-loved tunes by ABBA, and this large ensemble rocks the house from start to finish with spirited performances and fav songs like “Dancing Queen,” Honey, Honey” “Knowing Me, Knowing You” among many others, with the vocals impressively complemented by Anthony Van Laast’s robust choreography. The one glitch in this show is a drawn out second act that could have moved along quicker.
Production designer Mark Thompson’s two rotating block set pieces aren’t flashy, but they work well, and his large palette of color-filled costumes are truly striking. Kudos to Howard Harrison for a lighting schema that is subtle and full-on effective.
Ahmanson Theatre, 135 North Grand Ave., downtown LA; Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fri.-Sat., 8 pm , Sun., 1 pm and 6:30 pm; thru July 19. www.centertheatregroup.org Running time: two hours and 35 minutes, with an intermission.
