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| Mamma Mia! the Musical Australian Cast |
In 1974 ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo" and then took the world by storm with many No. 1 hits. I was swept up in the ABBA mania in 1977 when I was one of the thousands who blocked Swanston Street to see ABBA appear on the Melbourne Town Hall balcony. They performed at the Myer Music Bowl, where I was one of the 16,000 thousand who gathered outside the Bowl to hear them without a concert ticket.
The MAMMA MIA! musical was the brainchild of producer Judy Craymer. In 1997, Craymer commissioned British playwright Catherine Johnson to write the book for the musical. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, who composed the original music for ABBA, were involved in the development of the show from the beginning.
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| Stephen Mahy, Sarah Morrison |
MAMMA MIA! first appeared on stage in London in 1999, then opened in Canada and the USA in 2000. Due to its popularity, it appeared on stage in more than 50 countries, including Australia.
MAMMA MIA! was made into a hit movie in 2008.
Twenty two of ABBA's greatest hits have been featured in MAMMA MIA!, which tells the story of a 21-year-old Sophie who has been brought up by her mother Donna without knowing who her father was. Just before her wedding to Sky she discovers her mother's diary and reads of her mother's romantic liaisons with 3 men 20 years ago on a Greek Island. In her desire to know who her father was, she invites these 3 men to her wedding, thinking that she will be able to recognise her true father by his looks.
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| Mamma Mia! the Musical Australian Cast |
This production MAMMA MIA! has a wonderful cast of singers and dancers. They bring all of ABBA's song alive on stage in a humorous light-hearted way.
The four main women in this production of MAMMA MIA! excel in their roles.
Natalie O’Donnell is mother-of-the-bride Donna Sheridan. She singers her solos and duets with enthusiasm and compassion, and is a great dancer too. Natalie has appeared in the Australian production of Les Miserables and has had a remarkable career in theatre, television and film across the world. Natalie starred in the original Australian production of MAMMA MIA! as Sophie in 2001.
The emerging young Australian actor Sarah Morrison is Donna’s daughter and bride-to-be Sophie. Sarah brings to the stage the love of both her fiancee and her mother, together with the long-held desire of knowing her true father. She combines the loves of her life, pre-wedding nerves, and longing for her father well in her singing and dancing.
Alicia Gardiner and Jayde Westaby star as Donna’s best two friends Rosie and Tanya. Each of these two characters are very different in personality and provide great comic moments to MAMMA MIA! as they burst out in sing and dance.
Not to be outdone by the women, 4 brilliant men have lead roles in MAMMA MIA!
Alicia Gardiner and Jayde Westaby star as Donna’s best two friends Rosie and Tanya. Each of these two characters are very different in personality and provide great comic moments to MAMMA MIA! as they burst out in sing and dance.
Not to be outdone by the women, 4 brilliant men have lead roles in MAMMA MIA!
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| Phillip Lowe, Ian Stenlake, Josef Ber |
The 3 possible fathers are played by Ian Stenlake, Phillip Lowe and Josef Ber. Each of these 3 possibilities is very different from each other, with each actor bringing out these differences in the characters they play.
Award-winning actor Ian Stenlake stars as Sam Carmichael, one of Sophie’s possible fathers. Ian has an extensive theatre and television career over the years. Stage and screen actor Phillip Lowe plays Harry Bright, another man from Donna’s past who could be Sophie’s father. Phillip has appeared in many theatre productions. Josef Ber, acclaimed theatre and screen actor plays Bill Austin the third potential father. Josef has appeared in many and varied theatre, television and film productions.
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| Sarah Morrison, Stephen Mahy |
Sophie’s adoring fiancé Sky is played by Stephen Mahy who’s career spans roles in many musical theatre productions. He plays his role of loving Sophie but not really understanding her desire to find her father well.
Other lead actors who add to the fun and drama of MAMMA MIA! are Monique Sallém who plays the role of Ali, Jessica Di Costa as Lisa, Sam Hooper as Pepper and Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Eddie.
The incredible supporting cast includes Stephen Anderson, Jadie Bastow, Dion Bilios, Du Toit Bredenkamp, Annie Chiswell, Matt Edwards, Josh Gates, Catty Hamilton, Matthew Hamilton, Emma Hawthorne, Zoe Komazec, Sarah Kate Landy, Courtney Monsma, Clay Roberts, Leigh Sleightholme, Thalia Smith, Lisa Sontag and Zachary Webster.
The singing of all the ABBA songs is wonderful. They are not sung exactly as the ABBA originals, they are more like interpretations of them. With some musicals, the songs are best appreciated with closed eyes. However, with MAMMA MIA! it is best to keep them wide open as all the singer's movements bring the songs alive. Apart from the singing, the highlight of the show is the dancing. The dancers must be exhausted after each show with all the energetic moves they make on stage.
Other lead actors who add to the fun and drama of MAMMA MIA! are Monique Sallém who plays the role of Ali, Jessica Di Costa as Lisa, Sam Hooper as Pepper and Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Eddie.
The incredible supporting cast includes Stephen Anderson, Jadie Bastow, Dion Bilios, Du Toit Bredenkamp, Annie Chiswell, Matt Edwards, Josh Gates, Catty Hamilton, Matthew Hamilton, Emma Hawthorne, Zoe Komazec, Sarah Kate Landy, Courtney Monsma, Clay Roberts, Leigh Sleightholme, Thalia Smith, Lisa Sontag and Zachary Webster.
The singing of all the ABBA songs is wonderful. They are not sung exactly as the ABBA originals, they are more like interpretations of them. With some musicals, the songs are best appreciated with closed eyes. However, with MAMMA MIA! it is best to keep them wide open as all the singer's movements bring the songs alive. Apart from the singing, the highlight of the show is the dancing. The dancers must be exhausted after each show with all the energetic moves they make on stage.
The band that plays the music is excellent. I was surprised by the small number of muscicians that provided such depth of music for all the songs.
At first glance, the sets are over simplistic, consisting of just a the outside wall of a small two-storey Greek hotel building that is always present on stage. The only changes are the shuttered doors that open and close and various pieces of furniture that are brought on and off the stage. However, the simple staging puts the focus on the singers and dancers, as it should be. The costumes are simple island beachwear with relaxed bright colours that add to the fun of MAMMA MIA!
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| Sarah Morrison, Natalie O’Donnell |
This brand new Australian production is of MAMMA MIA is produced by Michael Coppel, Louise Withers & Linda Bewick. It is directed by Helpmann Award winner Gary Young, with the creative team also including Choreographer Tom Hodgson, Musical Supervisor Stephen Amos, Set Design by Linda Bewick, Costume Design by Suzy Strout and Lighting Design by Gavan Swift and Sound design by Michael Waters.
MAMMA MIA! is a fabulous night out for audiences of all ages. It is a celebration of ABBA music, love, laughter and friendship. Any person who rememnbers just one of ABBA's songs should get a group of people together and go and see MAMMA MIA! for a fun night out.
MAMMA MIA! commenced its new Australian national tour at the Canberra Theatre Centre last year with a sold-out season and has just completed the season in Brisbane to standing ovations at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre. The production commenced last week in Sydney at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.
MAMMA MIA! NATIONAL TOUR DATES
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
SYDNEY Capitol Theatre From February 11th 2018
PERTH Crown Theatre From May 15th 2018
MELBOURNE Princess Theatre From July 10th 2018
ADELAIDE Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre From October 9th 2018
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