The DC Traveler

Here’s the challenge - take one of the most globally successful pop band’s library of hits, and make a high-energy, campy, fun musical that makes people smile, laugh and leave feeling great.

Try it with just about any band and the expected result would be total disaster. 

Nut take the music of Abba, and add some ingenious choreography, mixed with a funny storyline and you end up with the global sensation, Mamma Mia. 

Mamma Mia just opened at the National Theatre in Washington, DC for a 3-week run and I had a chance to see the opening.

WARNING - Plot Spoiler

Mamma Mia revolves around Sophie, a 20-year-old who is planning her wedding on the Greek island where she grew up, with her single and very independent hotel owner mother, Donna. 

Sophie wants her father to walk her down the isle, but doesn’t know who he is.  She finds her Mom’s diary and discovers that her Dad might be one of three men, from one of her Mom’s “wild” summers.  

She secretly mails wedding invitations to all three men, who haven’t seen or spoken to Donna in 20 years, without either her mother’s or fiancés knowledge, or explaining to the guys why they are being invited. 

The day before the wedding, the three possible fathers and Donna’s two best friends show up and they all start to reminisce.  Emotions and lost romantic feelings are rekindled, behind the backdrop of the women reenacting their teen singing act while catching up on life and falling back into their teen roles.

Sophie’s quest to find her father takes some twists as she tries unsuccessfully to hide the fact that one of the men is actually her father.  While Sophie examines the concept of love, family and marriage, Donna must deal with abandonment, loneliness and lost love.

Add in some spandex Elvis outfits, dancing snorkelers, silver platform boot, 70 lavish costumes, some campy dialog, witty humor, a plausible storyline and about 20 Abba hits, including SOS, Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, and Take a Chance on Me, you can understand why over 30 million people globally have attended this high-energy smash musical hit.

The leads, Rose Sezniak playing Sophie, has a powerful and beautiful voice, and Susie McMonagle who plays her mom, effectively showed her range delivering pop powerhouse tunes through poignant love songs. 

The rest of the cast was exceptionally high-energy with a special note on Donna’s two friends, Tonya, the rich three-time divorcée (Michelle Elizabeth Dawson) and Rosie, the bawdy but never married but still hoping (Kittra Wynn Coomer) who added even more spark and laughter.

And don’t rush to leave at the end of the show. Some some of the best singing numbers and costumes are saved for the encore.

Mamma Mia will be the hot ticket of the summer. Plus, it’s a perfect summer date idea (trust me guys). Even if you are not a fan of Abba’s music or a Dancing Queen.

And if you are still not convinced, I walked into the theater knowing nothing about Mamma Mia, other than I didn’t care for Abba’s music.  I left 2 hours later with a new insight to their music and a smile on my face.

The only downer, the opening music before both acts is highly overly-amplified, be warned.

Comment Contest:
Share your thoughts on the DC production of Mamma Mia by 7/14, by making a comment below and one lucky random winner will receive a Mamma Mia! four-song CD of selected songs from the touring company.

Mamma Mia!
National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-783-3372

Dates and Times - Through July 13, 2008, nightly at 8:00 p.m except Sundays (7:30), with weekend matinees at 2:00 p.m.  no performances on July 4th or 7th.  

Tickets -  $46.50 - $151.50 and are available online or by phone at 800-447-7400.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Metro Center - Blue, Orange or Red lines, or Federal Triangle - Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.

Parking - Paid garage and limited metered street parking is available.

Images - courtesy of Mamma Mia! National Touring cast, © Joan Marcus 2008,

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