LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE – UNTIL SATURDAY 9TH APRIL 2022
Reviewed by Carla Whittaker
5*****
What a show! What a night! I have been waiting since 2008 (when the film adaptation was released) to see Mamma Mia! the musical, and I was so excited to finally get the chance to see it on stage at the Liverpool Empire Theatre last night! It was clear, from the start of the show that it was going to be a night filled with excitement, full to the brim with Abba songs including Mamma Mia, Waterloo, Money Money Money and Dancing Queen.
Created by Judy Craymer and writer Catherine Johnson ‘Mamma Mia!’ is an absolute phenomenal musical. It is a simple story set within a small picturesque Greek Island and is based around Sophie (Phoebe Roberts) who is getting married and wants to be walked down the aisle by her father on her wedding day. Sophie’s relationship with with Sky (Toby Miles) was beautiful. The problem is, she does not know who her father is. After reading her mum’s diary from the year she was born, she invites three potential men who could be her father. This brings her mum Donna (Sara Poyzer) face to face with her past. It is a story of friendship and love carefully told through over 20 Abba songs which share a range of emotion from joy to sadness. The well-known Abba energetic hits got the audience singing, clapping, and dancing from the start so was undeniably a crowd pleaser. Despite all the well-known Abba hits, for me the highlights were the lesser-known songs such as Our Last Summer and Slipping Through My Fingers, with sensational vocals from Sara Poyzer who delighted the audience.
The set was a simple revolving Greek taverna which was effective, with white and blues making you feel like you were on holiday, it was also a change to the more contemporary sets which are often flashy, with heavy production designs. The cast act with great energy, and choreography is done with precision.
Mamma Mia! Has a very strong talented cast with a mixture of youngsters who are friends of Sophie and older cast members who are friends with Donna. In addition to the three dads providing lots of laugh out loud hilarious moments. The chemistry between the cast members was perfect.
If you want to rewind back to the 70’s, and see a fun, feel good show then this is the show for you! Watching Mamma Mia! last night provided the most enjoyable evening, and the most fun I have had in a theatre in a long time, and for me, offered so much more than the film! Mamma Mia! is playing at the Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday 9th April 2022 so grab your self some tickets, sit back and enjoy!