With the live bands’ very first note, the audience’s ship had docked on a sparkling Greek island. Mamma Mia, here we go again! The year of 2024 marks the 25th ABBAversary of the first production of Mamma Mia! on the West End stage in London. Joining the celebrations, Showtime Management brought the magic to South African shores with their all-star South African cast. Mamma Mia! set sail in Cape Town at the Artscape Theatre and is, is now anchored at the Montecasino Teatro until 9 June.
Based on ABBA’s biggest hits, Mamma Mia! follows the journey of Sophie Sheridan as she searches for her birth father the day before her wedding. The plot twist is that she has three possible fathers and has no idea which one should be walking her down the aisle. The musical, originally produced by Judy Cramer and written by Catherine Johnson, takes audiences on a journey as Sophie discovers not only who she is but also more about who her mother, Donna Sheridan, is. Mamma Mia! brings naughty humor to a very sticky situation and zooms in on the strength of female relationships. Essentially, it is a musical about a girl and her mom navigating the scary waters of change, accompanied by their closest friends.
South Africa’s Mamma Mia!, directed by Janice Honeyman, was an unforgettable experience. The stellar cast was led by Gina Shmukler and Emmanuel Castis as Donna and Sam, one of Sophie’s possible fathers, and Kiruna-Lind Devar and Gianluca Gironi as the soon to be newly-weds Sophie and Sky respectively. The musical numbers were packed with emotions and passion, and the script was humbly relatable. It was both hilariously fun and deeply thought-provoking. It was a lovely balance, as is needed in life – especially when getting ready to make the most important promise of one’s love life. The highlights of the production were the musical numbers “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All”, as well as the final scene where the cast came together and brought “Mamma Mia”, “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo” to life.
“Super Trouper” was unmatched. The Dynamos, played by Shmukler, Kate Normington and Ilse Klink, were a force to be reckoned with. Each actress hit every note flawlessly while dancing and were surrounded by the female ensemble members who swayed flashlights below them. The lights sure did find Donna and the Dynamos as they were lit from above, in an almost heavenly glow. To top the scene off, the costumes designed by Sue Daniels shone radiantly. Dressed in those classic ABBA glittery ruffles, the Dynamos stole every heart in the audience.
“The Winner Takes It All” carried enough emotion to move continents; it started off gently with Shmukler letting Castis in on what she was feeling. Then, she poured out everything that Donna felt in that moment and had felt for the past 20 years poured out in one heart- wrenching display. The scene ended with Shmukler centre stage, arms stretched out as she belted out the final lines of the song. One woman’s love and loss was shared across the audience – all through the power of music.
The end numbers of “Mamma Mia”, “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo” were just as emotionally charged. These songs involved the whole cast coming onto the stage dressed in all their glitter and glory. The choreography, done by Duane Alexander, had the audience jumping to their feet in absolute awe of the magic and fun. Audiences stood and danced along as the cast performed these fun-filled ABBA hits. Every step and note was so intentionally energised. The magic of Mamma Mia!, of community and of love spread through the Teatro like a wildfire.
Other highlights included the exploding enthusiasm of the ensemble. Every member gave their all to the vocals and choreography. There were backflips and harmonies, and Tanya (Normington) was spun in the air on a beach lounger. Without the ensemble, that little Greek island would not have come to life as it did. A special mention must go to the lovely “Greek Granny” who made her presence known. Played by Chantal Stanfield, this little lady gave judging looks to the characters as they made some questionable decisions. Finally, she spoke up at Sophie’s wedding as she exclaimed passionately that Donna should just say “I do” already to Sam. She had all the sense and wisdom on this little island filled with the chaos of Greek weddings and tricks of fate. Lastly, the audience was moved to tears as Donna walked Sophie down the aisle. This symbolic moment was accompanied by the ensemble humming “Knowing Me, Knowing You”. That unbreakable love between a mother and a daughter sent ripples of emotion through the audience.
Of course, Donna and Sam stole the show through the powerhouse performances of Shmukler and Castis; however, each character had their moment. Normington and Klink showed the value of female friendships through their ecstatic characters Tanya and Rosie. These ladies were by far the most entertaining with their naughty jokes and hilarious facial expressions. Sophie’s best friends, Ali and Lisa (played by Ntshikeng Matooane and Sunny Yoon), provided a wonderful balance between being supportive and being one hundred percent ready for a party. But this would not be Mamma Mia! without the bond between Donna and Sophie. This relationship took the cake for being the most genuine and expressive. One could swear that Shmukler and Devar really were mother and daughter as they captivated the audience with their emotional number “Slipping Through My Fingers”. These women showed the power, joy and pure love that can be shared between best friends and the crazy mother figures guiding them through life.
Mamma Mia! is without a doubt the “guaranteed feel-good musical” South Africa has been waiting for. It carries the perfect blend of first class acting, sing-along ABBA hits and dances choreographed to get audiences leaping from their seats. A theatre experience so immersive, one is transported right into the heart of sunny Greece with all its ancient blues and whites.
