Audiences don’t go to jukebox musicals for their plots. The often threadbare and/or ridiculous storylines used as bridging material between popular songs by an artist or group are tolerated by audiences waiting to hear the next in a series of greatest hits, be they by Patsy Kline, the Go-Gos, or Neil Diamond. Swedish pop superstars ABBA got the musical jukebox treatment back in 1999 with Mamma Mia! The Novato Theater Company has a production running through June 7.
The plot involves soon-to-be-bride Sophie (Gia Mirra) inviting three men (Lorenzo Alviso, David Cole, Cordell Wesselink) to her Greek island wedding who may be, as indicated in the diary of her mother Donna (Julianne Bretan), her father. Each of the three spent an evening with Donna followed by…
The men’s arrival on the island frays the already frazzled mother and leads to some strife with Sophie’s himbo-husband-to-be Sky (Dominic Marco Canty). Fear not, all will be resolved with the help of girlfriends from both generations (Kristin Brewer, Marlee Ostrom, Jane Harrington, Lauren Sutton-Beattie) and about two dozen ABBA songs.
Some songs are worked better into the “plot” than others, but you’re gonna hear what you came to hear at one point or another. All of ABBA’s instantly recognizable hits are here along with some that will ring no bell whatsoever. Such is the nature of jukebox musicals.
Some of the better production numbers include “Money, Money, Money”, “Dancing Queen”, “S.O.S.”, and Bretan’s show-stopping “The Winner Takes It All”. Alviso has a nice moment with “Knowing Me Knowing You”. The ensemble gets a workout throughout the show, particularly with “Lay All Your Love On Me”, when a fair share of the group has to dance in wetsuits and swim fins.
Marilyn Izdebski’s choreography is bouncy and energetic and keeps the overall show light in tone. Izdebski’s lighting design added significant color to the proceedings. Huda Al Jamal’s taverna set is simple and readily allows for the few quick scene transitions required.
Sound was a bit of an issue at the performance I attended. The Nick Brown-led seven-piece band sounded great during the opening number but then occasionally went tinny, so much so that it sounded like the cast was singing to a track. Hopefully it was a one-performance-only situation as they were doing the score justice.
Mamma Mia! is by no means a great musical, but summertime audiences looking for a little light entertainment might take a chance on… it.
‘Mamma Mia!’ runs through June 7 at the Novato Theater Company, 5420 Nave Drive, Ste. C, Novato. Fri & Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm., $25–$37. 415.883.4498. novatotheatercompany.org
