Photo by Alan Dean. Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus  and some songs with Stig Anderson

Book by Catherine Johnson  Originally conceived by Judy Craymer

Orpheus Musical Theatre Society  Directed by Shaun Toohey

Thank You For The Music…and the performances, energy, lighting, colour and overall fun of Mamma Mia! The Winner Takes It All in terms of enjoyment and packed houses with this Ottawa premiere — especially when the production is of top quality as delivered by the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society.

If there is anyone out there who doesn’t enjoy ABBA’s infectious, toe-tapping songs, I haven’t met him/her. From 1999, when Mamma Mia! burst into life in London’s West End, it was destined to become the world’s most popular jukebox musical. The first North American production was the following year in Toronto. Since then, the show has racked up productions in 50 countries on six continents in 440 cities, has accumulated a long list of awards and has been made into a popular movie, with a sequel in the works. (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! is set to open next month.)

 

Even the back-story on the origin of the show is something of a fairy tale. The 22 songs included in Mamma Mia! were written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (the two Bs in the ABBA name), in the 1970s, around the time the Swedish pop quartet sprung to fame after winning the Eurovision song contest in 1974 for Waterloo. Some 22 years later, British producer Judy Craymer had the idea of bringing various ABBA hits together in a musical after hearing The Winner Takes It All. She convinced Andersson and Ulvaeus that the project was worthwhile and commissioned English playwright Catherine Johnson (a single mother in her 20s and not an ABBA fan at the time) to write a script weaving the songs into “a contemporary, ironic, romantic comedy” without changing any of the lyrics.

 

Three years later, Johnson gave Andersson and Ulvaeus the musical they had not realized they had written. While analysis of the story line might reveal assorted loopholes, this matters little as the musical jigsaw, set in a taverna on a Greek island, is pieced together..

 

Sophie, the daughter of the owner, Donna, is about to get married and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. The only problem is that she has no idea who he is until she finds her mother’s diary and, with it, news of three possible dads. So, she invites them all to the wedding, the basis of the guessing game and romantic twists that follow.

 

As directed by Shaun Toohey, with musical direction by Chris Santillan and choreography by Susie Bregg-Krzyzanowski, there are no weak performances in this well-coordinated production of Mamma Mia! though some hit the outstanding mark.

 

Always to be relied on for her beautiful singing voice and warmth of performance, Nicole Milne delivers a rounded and believable Donna, well supported by her Dynamos, Tanya (Stefania Wheelhouse) and Rosie (Christine Moran) and well matched in a delightful performance from Meaghan Chapin as her daughter. Sophie.

 

Wheelhouse is amusing in her Does Your Mother Know? number as she holds Pepper (Pierre Sirois) at bay and Moran shines in her Take a Chance on Me duet with Michael Schilder as Bill.

 

The three fathers, Sam (Geoff Beck), Bill and Harry, led by a particularly sensitive performance from Réjean Dinelle-Mayer as Harry — his Our Last Summer duet with Milne is one of the most moving moments in the show — are well contrasted and Damien Broomes makes the most of the relatively small role of Eddie.

 

The technical aspects, from David Magladry’s mood-changing lighting to the smooth scene transitions, the well-designed set by Jenn Donnelly and Tony Walker and the mass of colourful costumes by designers Susan Cole and Linda Sabourin, add further texture to the production.

 

And it all comes together to honour the music of ABBA.

 

The Orpheus production of Mamma Mia! continues at Centrepointe Theatre to June 10. Please note that one extra matinee has been added on June 9 to accommodate demand.

 

Director: Shaun Toohey

Musical director: Chris Santillan

Choreographer: Susie Bregg-Krzyzanowski

Set: Jenn Donnelly and Tony Walker

Lighting: David Magladry

Sound: John Cybanski

Costumes: Susan Cole and Linda Sabourin

 

Cast::

Donna…………………………………………………………….Nicole Milne

Sophie…………………………………………………………….Meaghan Chapin

Rosie……………………………………………………………..Christine Moran

Tanya……………………………………………………………..Stefania Wheelhouse

Sam……………………………………………………………….Geoff Beck

Bill………………………………………………………………..Michael Schilder

Harry………………………………………………………………Réjean Dinelle-Mayer

Sky…………………………………………………………………Derek Eyamie

Pepper ……………………………………………………………..Pierre Sirois

Eddie……………………………………………………………….Damien Broomes

Lisa……………………………………………………………….. Caroline Baldwin

Ali………………………………………………………………… Sarah Cousineau

 

Ensemble:

Andréa Black, Johanne Boisvenu-Henry, Vivian Burns, Michelle Chapin, Morgan Coughlan, Christa Cullain, Jamie Hegland, Sarah Jones, Gianpaolo Lattanzio, John Leclaire, Ryan Lutton, Greg Palmer

Vocal ensemble:

Antonio Dirienzo, John Litster, Michelle Pare, Beverley Soifer

 

Orchestra

Conductor/keyboard………………………..Chris Santillan

Keyboard……………………………………Mark Allen, John McGovern, Cynthia Tauro

Guitar……………………………………….John Corkett, Corey Thomas

Bass…………………………………………Chris Lucas

Drums……………………………………….Pierre Huneault

Percussion……………………………….….Scott Latham