With the passionate fan base that “Mamma Mia!” has attracted for 25 years, I should not have been shocked to see audacious feather boas, groovy ‘70s-esque patterns and beach-y attire around me at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach Tuesday night.
But such disco-meets-the-islands cosplay is appropriate for a musical that always lets its hair down. Five days into the official summer season fittingly marked the return of the Broadway tour of “Mamma Mia!,” which is playing the Kravis through Sunday. If you are longing for a Mediterranean summer vacation, this is a show that will not only transport you there but, at the same time, will have you singing and dancing along to the nostalgic ABBA soundtrack.
“Mamma Mia!” is set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, where 20-year-old Sophie (Alisa Melendez) is preparing her nuptials. Sophie grew up having never met her father, but, believing it’s never too late to bring good old dad into the most important day of her life, has narrowed the list of candidates to three men to whom she sent wedding invitations—much to the surprise and chagrin of her mother Donna (Christine Sherfill). All three show up, deepening the mystery, ratcheting up the humor, and reminding Donna of her more carefree youth.
This show, while presenting many types of relationships, is built on powerful female friendships and the camaraderie that women form to support one another as individuals. The notorious mother/daughter relationship between Donna and Sophie, as well as one-time bandmates Tanya, Rosie and Donna’s powerful friendship, are testaments to this.
Sherrill and Melendez separately embody the inherently free spirits of their characters. However, together, the two not only represent the deeper melancholic emotions that come along with starting a new phase of life but convince the audience to experience those bittersweet feelings with them.
This is especially true as Donna helps Sophie to get ready on her wedding day. Together the two sing “Slipping Through my Fingers,” and whether the audience has experienced this exact moment in their life, most can relate to this parental or adolescent realization of time passing. By the end of this song, most children and adults in the audience can resonate with the fear of growing up, but also the comfort that comes from the support of a motherly figure.
While Donna and Sophie’s relationship leads the audience into a more bittersweet feeling, the trio that comprises the girl group Donna and the Dynamos juxtaposes this greatly. Rosie, played by Carly Sakolove, and Tanya, played by Jalynn Steele, provide a comedic air to the show that takes the production to the next level. Without their performances, I fear that “Mamma Mia!” would not be complete. This friendship accomplishes an integral goal of this show, which is to leave the audience feeling good, while also demonstrating what a supportive female friendship is all about.
Sakolove and Steele’s performances of “Chiquitita” and “Dancing Queen” stole the show and made me want to dance right alongside them. While their performances together were dynamite, separately they both had the audience in an uproar of laughter, especially throughout “Take a Chance On Me” and “Does Your Mother Know”.
While the majority of this show’s costuming centers around a more beach-y, effortless vibe, the real show-stopping outfits embrace the ‘70s aesthetic that comes with ABBA music’s, especially during Donna and the Dynamos’ performance of “Super Trouper.” These outfits reappear in the finale, where the trio is joined by Sam Carmichael, Bill Austin and Harry Bright, played by Victor Wallace, Jim Newman and Rob Marnell, in equally dazzling outfits. These ABBA and ‘70s disco-inspired go-go suits are a trademark element in the musical, and they help to make the production come full circle.
While the sets are the one element of this show that remained fairly simple, the overall acting, dancing and singing keep the action dynamic and fresh. The classic story is conveyed clearer than ever at this Kravis Center tour. If you are looking for a production that will leave you feeling winsome but on your feet and singing along, then this is the show for you.
“Mamma Mia” plays through Sunday at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets run $52-$130. Call 561/832-7469 or visit kravis.org.
