Shaftesbury Theatre – from 21 May 2021
Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith
4****
After 14 months of closure the Shaftesbury theatre threw open its doors and welcomed a socially distanced crowd to fill the place with singing, dancing and humans.
Could there be a better performance to kick start the reopening of London’s theatre land than Abba Mania? I think not.
Abba first came to the public’s attention when they won the Eurovision song contest back in 1974 with Waterloo, 47 years ago. They went on to become one of the greatest bands the world has ever seen and even though they have not performed together since 1982, when they said good-bye to the band and each other, their music is still captivating generations of dancing queens.
With 9 UK number ones and selling an estimated 200 million records world wide every one knows their sound so you had better be good if your taking the ABBA baton and running with it.
Congratulations cast you nailed it.
Tamsin Stewart, Agnetha, the blonde one, had an amazing soprano voice that gave me goose bumps after her rendition of a beautiful love song I had not heard before and her cheeky interaction with husband, Bjorn.
Jojo, Frida, the dark one, had an infectious way with the audience getting them all up on their feet, singing at the top of their voices. Remarkable harmonies that you don’t usually appreciate on a sound track.
Edward Handoll, Bjorn, played a mean lead guitar with same groovy dance moves.
Duncan Walsh-Atkins, Benny, stayed mainly behind the piano with a few glimpses when he rose from his seat but played piano like a demon.
The supporting band were truly talented musicians and demonstrated their skills in a couple of solo performances.
The wigs were a bit dodgy but that’s the only dodgy thing about this polished performance. There was more than just an essence of Abba playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre last night Abba had taken the stage in London’s West End one more time.
Fab evening for all Abba fans, old and new and those who have yet to discover the magic of ABBA.
So brush off your lycra trousers and stain shirts. Pull on your platform boots, apply your blue eyeshadow and get yourself to this up-lifting, fun and fabulous spectacle.