Stand-by Joined: 12/7/03
If you love ABBA, you will have a great time.
Honestly, I loved the show when I saw it two weeks ago. My favorite song was the one during Act 2 when Carolee Carmello gave me chills..."The Winner Takes It All." Fabulous! I think I was the only native New Yorker in the audience though...
Stand-by Joined: 6/1/04
Sigh. I wanted to hate it, but I loved it. It sucked me in completely, I admit -- a total guilty pleasure that I refuse to feel guilty about. It was a nice surprise, actually, and I'll take my pleasures where I can get 'em. Is it great theater? No. Is it great fun? Absolutely.
My favorite number was "Dancing Queen" -- not because it was my favorite song, but because I loved the scene, and all of the interactions between those three characters. Favorite song would probably be "Super Trouper."
Stand-by Joined: 12/7/03
Thanks for replying.
I love the song Dancing Queen
Im an ABBA fan, and a total whore for "Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man afer Midnight)" and "Knowing me, Knowing you." Its a really fun guilty pleasure.
I can only say thank god I got a half price ticket. It was cute mindless fluff, designed for the tourist crowd. I didn't hate it, but I don't see what the fuss is about either. I did think that the current cast, with Carolee Carmelo, did a great job.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/8/05
I loved it. I agree with WithoutATrace, Carolee Carmello game me total chills during "the winner takes it all." her money money money is fabulous. i really enjoed the whole gimmie gimmie gimmie, name of the game, voulez-vous sequence. the dancing during that pat was awesome. and yes for the record, im a tourist.
Love it! My favorite number in the show is Under Attack.
This show is so much fun (a true guilty pleasure)
My favorite song from the show.... "Does Your Mother Know?"
my 2 would be gimmie and voulez vou, actually the whole run from super trouper to the end of act 1.
also does your mother know, it its done right
Leading Actor Joined: 5/16/03
I second the true "guilty pleasure" statement. It really is the best juke box musical out there. ABBA's music are little stories within the songs- that is why it works so well. It is not "mind blowing", thought provoking theatre but just a great fun time out. I don't go for this type of thing but I was caught in its spell.
It was fun. It doesn't try to be great theatre... and it's not, but a total guilty pleasure of mine, yes. Probably my favorite number is Dancing Queen, closely followed by Knowing Me, Knowing You and Does Your Mohter Know.
Hated it. HATED IT. If you gave me a ticket, I would turn around and give it to the first tourist from Des Moines I saw. On my death bed, I will want those 2 1/2 hours back. Wished I'd stayed home and done laundry. Or scheduled a root canal. At least the dentist gives you Novocaine to dull the pain. Stupid, inane book, if you can call it that. Dumb, dumb show. I wish it would close so we could finally (after 20+ years) get a good show into the Winter Garden. Oh, did I mention I hated it?
Dancing Queen is my favorite song, but I love how they incorporate Take a Chance on Me ---- so funny.
As long as Carolee is in it (which won't be much longer), I think it's a fine show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
Lauren Mufson and Bekah Nutt are FAB on tour...
I loved Dee Hoty in it. It was a fun night - but I did not go expecting Hamlet. I think you must go with the correct mind set and enjoy yourself!
I saw the Australian tour, and while there was no fault with the cast, i think the musical itself is just increibly and tragically flawed. The "story" revolves around the worst plotline since season three of Passions. (The tv show, not the musical)
Its a waste of money and time.
I loved mamma mia! I saw it when it was playing in toronto and had a fabulous time. i'm a big abba fan so that probably helped. My favorite songs were Gimme Gimme and Does your mother know.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
hushpuppy, would you give us your honest opinion.
Oh and laundary can be fun!
Seriously I disliked the show as well. The book was terrible. It fell somewhere between bland, predictable and diabetic.
I went in expecting to not like it very much but I LOVED it. It's a lot of fun. My favorite scene is "Does Your Mother Know"
Dancing Queen. All the way.
The thing about Mamma Mia is that it was written around the music. If you love the music, there will be a part of you that will love the show no matter what. However, the "plot" is loosely strung together... a result of being secondary.
Swing Joined: 7/24/05
I looooove this show! Its comin' to my area next year, I can't wait! Does anyone live in Arizona? Its playing at Gammage Auditorium. If some of you are going, hope I'll meet you guys there!$$$***Natalie_Jemima***$$$
A guilty pleasure is the best way to describe it. The book is slight, but whatever cleverness it does have lies in how it incorporates the ABBA songs into the plot. This is something other jukebox shows have mostly failed at, or not even attempted. That alone can keep the audience hooked into "what's coming next." The other big appeal is its escapist approach. It takes place on a beautiful Greek island. I felt like I was on vacation watching this show (which ain't a bad place to be). It's got some funny moments too, but don't look for anything earth-shattering as far as theatrics. Just go and have fun.
Another guilty pleasure of mine? I'm actually looking forward to a movie version of it (someday in the near future). I bet it will come, too! Film it all on location, with a great cinemetographer... oh, and find out what Olivia Newton-John is doing these days. I think she'd be terrific in the lead.
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