Mamma Mia!

who has seen it? i haven't, but i want to. the following is an article i wrote for my school newspaper. tell me what you think (ie. "It's good because...or It sucks because...)

Broadway’s newest hit musical, Mamma Mia! is coming to San Jose this May. This 2.5 hours musical has received great reviews in every city it’s been to. Michael Riedel of the New York Post says that “IT’S IRRESISTABLE” while Richard Christiansen from the Chicago Tribune calls it “THE HOTTEST TICKET FOR A MUSICAL IN YEARS!” Even Jerry Friedman of KGO TV in San Francisco claims Mamma Mia! is “ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING, DAZZLING, ELECTRIFYING MUSICAL COMEDIES YOU’LL EVER SEE.” Ok, so why is it so great?

It all started a few years ago in a city named London. Two Swedes by the name of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus got together and decided they wanted to write a musical. Obviously, the first things that are needed for a musical are the songs. That was a piece of cake for them, because they simply picked 22 songs that they have already written a couple decades ago. These songs were first written for their world famous band, ABBA. Next comes the storyline. The entire musical is based on the 1968 movie Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell. On a mythical Greek island, Sophie, a 20 year old girl, is about to be married. According to customs, her father has to walk her down the isle, however, there lies the problem; she doesn’t know who her father is. Being as clever as she is, she reads her mom’s old diary to find that she has three possible dads. Then she invites all three to the wedding, hoping that she will be able to find out who her real father is. When the three finally arrive, they all see Sophie’s mom, Donna. Now, Donna must confront her past.

After all that work, the musical premiered in the Prince Edward Theatre in London on April 6, 1999, exactly 25 years after ABBA won the Eurovision Contest and were recognized as competitors in the musical world. Then the hit went to the Royal Alexandria Theatre in Toronto the following May. This North American premiere was attended not only by Bjorn and Benny themselves, but also another member of ABBA who is also Benny’s ex, Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad-Reuss. Mamma Mia! made it’s United States premiere in San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre in November that same year. Surprisingly, Mamma Mia! has set Box Office records in all three cities and other cities around the world. Now, 4 years after its premiere, it is finally coming to San Jose. It will be playing from May 14 – June 1 at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, located on Almaden Blvd between Park Ave. and San Carlos St. Tickets can be ordered on their website www.amtsj.org.

According to mamma-mia.com (the official website), “Mamma Mia! is ABBA’s greatest hits woven into 3 wonderful love stories: a young girl about to be married, her mother about to confront the past; and the best love story of all- the audience about to jump out of their seats with joy!”
 
hehe for out band trip this year we have tickets to see it. Now only if the school board approves. since there's SARS all around.
--Mandy :angelic:
 
I really want 2 see that! I love Abba! Its been on in London 4 ages now but i havent been 2 c it! I saw another musical though, which was really good, We Will Rock You, all about Queen. Don't know if its been staged in another country yet though, but if it is, go c it coz it really is good!
 
Back
Top