The catchy tunes and streamlined plot of Mamma Mia attract audiences of all backgrounds for an entertaining 2 hours; however, the Broadway hit was a less-than-exciting experience for me. It may have been partly affected because I had seen the movie beforehand, but the second-rate acting seemed to have been the primary cause.
The 10 year anniversary was on October 18th, 2011- as it opened in a post-September 11 aftermath, when Broadway audiences needed to start smiling again- induced by the light-hearted storyline and infectious energy. The cast’s charisma on stage definitely made up for the lack of star-quality acting.
The storyline incorporates many ABBA songs and shapes the story around a single mother, coping with her young daughter’s marriage on a picturesque Greek Island. From then on, the plot becomes very predictable and I found myself questioning the essence of the musical besides its upbeat and entertaining aspects.
Musical Director: David Holcenberg, Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Title of Work: Mamma Mia!
Date of Work: 2001- 2011
Materials/Medium: Musical
Duration/Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Location: Winter Garden Theater on Broadway and 50th Street
Attended with several Macaulay classmates
