How did Mamma Mia get it right? — Page 2

I've always wondered who the girl is in the logo.

I'm with evic on this one. Mamma Mia opened a great fun filled feel good show, just when New York needed it the most. As sappy and silly as it is, you must admit it is FUN. I've seen it acouple of times and am ready to see it again.

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For a show that just happens to string together twenty-something totally unrelated songs, I think Mamma Mia does a damn good job at being what it is: a fun, fluffy show and a nice escape from heavy drama and such. Plus, ordinary tourists see the ads and say, "Oh, I loved 'Dancing Queen', let's go see that one!" Erego, it's a financial hit.

Word of mouth is what's fueling "Mamma Mia!".

It's gotten rave reviews in practically every country but the USA, and people are falling all over themselves for tickets internationally, especially in London.

With all those people saying it's good, it figures that it'd do well. Plus, the grand majority of the public that are, for lack of a better word, uneducated as theatre goers. They enjoy it for its recognizable songs, upbeat energy and fun, and its great voices. (Carolee Carmello belting The Winner Takes it All is pretty awesome to anyone, especially those that aren't into the theatre scene.)

Also, it was the first. It seemed very new and clever, as nothing had been done quite like it before.

Eh, I enjoyed it.

Mamma Mia was the first musical i ever saw-that i remember. i was around 10 when i saw it in London. i was IN LOVE with it, only cause i had an unknown love for musical theatre, then i saw other musicals-lion king, my fair lady- and then saw mamma mia again when i was around 12, and HATED it. now i can't stand it at all, the music makes me gag, ahhhhhhhhhhhh. i don't understand why it is still on broadway.

I really liked it when I first saw it... it was only years later after much more exposure to theatre that I realized just how bad a show it was... I feel like for a lot of tourists lookign for a good time it will suffice but most people on this board obviously have been exposed to a lot of good theatre and see the show in a different light.

Well, the notion of good theater is very subjective ! Mamma Mia is not intellectual, not thought provoking, not original, but to me it is good theater ! And before the intellectuals and the snobs attack me viciously, let me explain what I mean. It doesn't pretend and doesn't promise to be nothing else but pure, mindless FUN ! And it succeeds in every level ! And a show that delivers what it promises, is good theater ! Well, for me, anyway !

I have nothign against mindless fun. My favorite show right now is All Shook Up which many people would probably consider to fall in that category (though I woulnd't) I just find Mamma Mia lacking even in the mindless fun category. More mindless, less fun, but that's just my opinion, and I would never bash anyone else for enjoying a certain show, I'm glad to see others appreciating theatre.

well said Greekmusicfan

They have this amazing free marketing thing worked out.

The songs are so catchy everyone who sees the show sings one of them for weeks afterwards.

Someone overhears this and thinks 'Oh, ABBA, haven't heard that in awhile.'

A bit later, this person sees and ad for Mamma Mia! and thinks, 'Oh, a show based on the songs of ABBA. I was just thinking about ABBA the other day... can't remember why... maybe I should go see it!'

The cycle repeats.

i think a lot of people go to mamma mia, not knowing what it really is, so their optomistic. But when people hear all shook up they think elvis biography and that could either turn people away or lure them in.

honestly, I'm 15, and had never heard of ABBA before like 2 years ago, but i've known elvis my whole life. Elvis is definately more popular than abba, and All Shook Up is an amazing show. i wish more people would give it a chance.

Because God has a twisted sense of humor.

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