You are, in fact, the Dancing Queen.

Dec 03, 2007 23:44


This past Saturday I was fortunate enough to enjoy Mamma Mia! live, at the Colonial Theatre, here in Boston with a dear friend I had not seen in over a year. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 8 years, you probably know that the musical contains the music of Swedish pop superstars of the 1970s, ABBA. What you may not know (as I did not until the day I saw it) -- it has nothing to do with the history or members of ABBA (although the two primary writers of ABBA songs -- and the male half of the quartet, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, did play a role in its musical production). Of courses, there are homages to these Swedes, in the forms of sparkly spandex, boats named "Waterloo," etc. So, this makes Mamma Mia! a jukebox musical, or one that uses previously-released music for its score.

Today someone asked me if you had to like the music of ABBA already to enjoy it. The answer: NO! Definitely not! In fact, I'd say that even if you didn't really care for their music, you would still enjoy this musical (given that you, of course, like musicals). I certainly did not know all of the songs, and of course all of them have been given that musical-touch. The production, in general, was great. So much fun. Boys dancing in diving flippers, a simple and economical set, and a charismatic cast that just appeared to be enjoying every moment of it. The show is on tour now (and has been for over a year), so if you are in Boston before the 16th, or if it comes to a city near you, I would highly suggest you go see it. Especially if you have an affinity for the Greek Isles, musicals, spandex, romantic comedies, strong female characters, and of course, ABBA.

To read a well-articulated review, here is one from the Boston Globe.

Of course, as with any good musical, I left humming all of the songs in one -- there's been a mad melody of all the songs running through my head since Saturday. (That I have the soundtrack on repeat isn't helping matters, of course.) Also, when I left, I left asking that age old question, one that has often plagued me when I think of the state of the world as it is today: wouldn't life be better ... wouldn't every day interactions, both good and bad, be more enjoyable ... if they were all carried out in song and dance? If we just broke out dancing and singing, choreographed and in-tune? Wouldn't it?!
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