The party has started in Norwich, as Mamma Mia! comes to Norwich Theatre Royal!
Words can hardly describe what a monumental success this musical has been, making big waves around the world, and multiple star-studded movies, with another likely on the way. The feel-good story and the catchy ABBA tunes have been infectious for over 20 years, and the show clearly resonates to this day.
The show has a book by Catherine Johnson, based on ABBA songs with members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus composing them. The story follows Sophie as she looks to find her father, only to meet three possible candidates for this, after her mother, Donna, has romantic relations with all three at a similar time. This story is hilarious and heartfelt, as Sophie navigates this dilemma, while dealing with the repercussions with her fiance, and her mother. In the end though, surrounding yourself with loving people is the important moral here which plays out beautifully.
This set works well and is efficient, comprising of a couple of walls and additional set being moved in to create different rooms and aesthetics. The lighting is effective here, making each scene feel unique. The costumes are bright and colourful, and add a lot of dynamism to dance numbers in the show. Speaking of dance numbers, the ensemble made the showstopping moments even more explosive, with ‘Voulez-Vous’ feeling especially impactful. The soundtrack is of course iconic, sounding as good as ever and working really well with the story.
Joe Grundy plays Sky, and adds a lot of energy and charm to the role. He has great chemistry with Lydia Hunt’s Sophie Sheridan, and their duet of ‘Lay All Your Love on Me’ was fun to watch. Richard Meek plays Harry Bright, who captures the innocence of Harry as as he comes to terms with leaving the safety of his job in London. He shares some especially funny scenes with the trio of dads. Mark Goldthorp plays Bill Austin, who is hilarious throughout the show with his current profession of being a writer and adventurer. Luke Jasztal plays Sam Carmichael, a more steadfast figure, who shared some emotional moments with Jenn Griffin’s Donna Sheridan, with ‘SOS’ being a highlight.
Sarah Earnshaw plays Tanya, who adds a great sense of humour and confidence to the role. Her rendition of ‘Does Your Mother Know‘ was energetic and had the audience laughing throughout. Rosie Glossop plays Rosie, who has a lot of heart during the performance and was really endearing. Her rendition of ‘Take a Chance on Me’ with Goldthorp’s Bill Austin was a treat to watch! Jenn Griffin plays Donna Sheridan who balances a lot of emotions here, grappling with Sophie’s wedding, running things on the island, and meeting three important figures from her past. Her rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’ was especially powerful and she had fantastic vocals. The trio really felt like they’d been friends for years!
Lydia Hunt portrays Sophie Sheridan, who feels like the heart of the show and does a terrific job. Hunt interacts with the entire cast through the show essentially, and has great chemistry with everyone. Her vocals were a highlight, with ‘Under Attack’ and ‘I Have a Dream’ being very different songs but performed brilliantly.
This show is bursting with fun, heart, and endearing moments. You can’t help but feel good afterwards and you can’t ask for more than that. Many thanks to Norwich Theatre Royal for the complimentary tickets to this production. Mamma Mia! plays until 11th July. Book your tickets now!
Chris
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