Here We Go Again!

Cashelle Butler, Betsy Padamonsky, Sarah Smith and the Company of the Mamma Mia! Farewell Tour

Mamma Mia! has been a part of my theater life almost from its' inception. I wasn’t able to see it on Broadway before it closed in 2015, but the tour has made its’ way to town several times and at every turn I was lucky enough to see it multiple times, including the three times I saw it last week. Since this is the farewell tour, I felt compelled to put down in words my appreciation for a show that celebrates joy, friendship and family. Mamma Mia! is not a complicated show, and the neon spandex and platform boots might belie the show's secret plan to change the world, but bringing joy to millions of people is exactly the way to go about it.

Mamma Mia! is built on a very simple plot: a young woman who wants to meet her dad invites her three possible fathers to her wedding. Oh, and she doesn’t tell her mother. Singing, dancing, heart and humor ensue. Woven into the story is the classic ABBA catalog of tunes. Mamma Mia! beautifully pairs heartfelt moments with songs such as “One of Us” and balances those moments with scenes like “Dancing Queen," which is pure, unadulterated fun.

This farewell tour is a non-equity tour and it feels like one. But the cast is so enthusiastic and working so hard that it is easy to forgive their inexperience. Betsy Padamonsky (Donna) shows off her strong belt on numbers such as “The Winner Takes It All” and Lizzie Markson (Sophie) is spunky on upbeat numbers such as “Honey, Honey.” And let’s not forget about the ensemble. Between the dance heavy numbers and the harmonies they provide even when not on stage, this ensemble is one of the hardest working ones around.

Mamma Mia! will surely live to dance again. I am hopeful that after the tour shutters the powers that be will start the revival conversation. The world needs more joy! Even if we have to wait for many years, at least we can remember fondly the nights when we were all dancing queens.