Mamma Mia!

 Way back in the 70's when I was just a kid with long hair and a taste for drug induced rock music like Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Airplane/Starship, Uriah Heep, Status Quo and Deep Purple, there was a group of corporate musicians more of a business than a band lurking on AM radio and getting lots of press from Casey Kasem. That was ABBA, the Swedish conglomerate of two men and two women who cranked out tune after tune of non-nutritious candy bar rock. Hit after hit after hit and this guy right here couldn't help but love it. Ear worms that even 50 years later I cannot get rid of in my memory bank. Yeah, it's against everything I stand for, but I couldn't help it. And I still cannot help it. The shit I took over the years from fellow rockers after I admitted that Knowing Me and Knowing You was a fucking great song is still a memory also. LOL.I still love ABBA.

With that in mind, here we go on Mamma Mia. 

There are two kinds of jukebox musicals. There are musicals like Get on Your Feet, the Motown Story, Million Dollar Band, Tina, The Temptations, or even Beatlemania. These are musicals with familiar tunes, a story behind the band/singers, and some substance. Then there are jukebox musicals like Rock of Ages and Mamma Mia. These are an excuse to play familiar hit songs with absolutely no story anyone could possibly care about and have nothing to do with the bands they profess to love.

Mamma Mia. Its a "story" about Donna, a woman living on an island with her daughter who is about to be married. Ya see 20 years ago Donna got down with 3 different dudes in a short period of time, became pregnant with Sophie, and to this day has no idea who the father is. Cool. Sophie wants to know who her Dad is and invites all 3 to the wedding and the hilarity ensues. Thats about it. And oh yeah, they play a lot of ABBA music which saves it.

The cast is great. See the above picture to see when Mamma Mia knocks it out of the park. Mom Donna and her two friends. Tanya and Rosie are a freaking hoot to watch. And damn can they act AND sing. It's no wonder all 3 have been in TV, movies and Broadway. Christine Sherrill as Donna is captivating and as she belts out The Winner Takes It All this candy cane offering becomes 5 star Michelin. Jaylyn Steele as the thrice married Tanya singing Does Your Mother Know (very underrated ABBA song) gets a chance to shine as a singer and a dancer, Finally, Carly Sackolove as Rosie, the definite comedian of the bunch, gets to take her chops to the sky with Take A Chance On Me attempting a seduction of world traveler Bill.

The men are also right up there. Victor Wallace as Sam, one of the possible fathers, blasting Knowing Me and Knowing You to Donna is also masterful. There's a lot of talent up there with not much to work with as far as story goes,

Sophie. played by Alisa Melendez, is the weak link. Her voice is not strong enough to be heard over the live band. It was a chore to interpret what she was singing (tho yeah ABBA songs are easily remembered).

I didn't hate it. It just has nothing to offer other than great music. I've never seen the movies, and probably never will, despite the presence of Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski. Sorry, but I like a story that teaches me something about the music. Mamma Mia doesn't. Great music, lousy story just distracts us.

Go see an ABBA tribute band. I've seen two of them. No story just music. Fun Fun Fun.