Munk revisits MAMMA MIA!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 10:52am

I know, random, right? I was dragged against my will to see this tonight...but it was free, so I couldn't resist. We really went to check out it's new stars, Michele Pawk and John Dossett.

The first time I saw this show with the original cast I thought it was well put together and extremely fun, for what it was. The second time I saw it (a year later,) I wanted to run for my life - so that is why I was very apprehensive about putting myself through this again tonight. I'm not going to review the show - clearly, no one needs to hear anything about MAMMA MIA after it's been running for 4 years - sometimes it's just nice to hear how a long running show is (or isn't) holding up.

Unlike BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (which I had the displeasure of sitting through last month,) MAMMA MIA! has held up surprisingly well. Yes, it is due in part to it's extremely young and youthful cast (that are constantly being recycled,) but also due in part to the crispness of the visual design - which makes it so that even when the performers are no longer top-notch (which they haven't been for quite some time,) the entire production LOOKS brand new and pristine.

Michele Pawk (the real life Mrs. Dossett) is quite charming in the role, but lacks the depth necessary to give a convincing portrayal of a woman who is haunted by her past - i.e. being disowned by her mother, not knowing the father of her child, etc. For the most part, though, she is great. My only sincere qualm about her performance is her lack of vocal power. She has a very standard Musical Theatre voice with an extremely limited belting range - and while I'm not one for constant belting, the role of Donna does require just that. It you're not belting those notes out (particularly in the last half of "The Winner Takes it All") over the deafiningly over-amplified "orchestra," then you might as well not be singing, in my opinion. A few flat notes, but that can be contributed to (but not excused by) vocal problems she was facing last week. And she has KILLER legs.

John Dossett, whom I adored in GYPSY and DEMOCRACY, gives his usual ultra-reliable performance. I know he just started in MAMMA MIA, but Dossett has the unique ability (as he showed in GYPSY) to continuously make the material appear fresh, like he's saying it for the first time, and like he actually MEANS what he says. You might argue that that's the job of ANY good stage actor - and I would definitely agree - but there are so few great stage actors left that when I see someone like Dossett rise to the occasion time and time again, he can't help but earn my kudos.

Judy McLane and Olga Merediz are more than adequate as Tanya and Rosie, but neither one are as memorable as the role's originators, Karen Mason and Judy Kaye. They have found things to play with here that other casts hadn't - I'm not saying all of them work - but it's nice to see people having so much fun together onstage while still upholding a satisfactory performance.

Lastly, Andy Kelso (while he is a dream to look at,) is a terrible actor. He comes across as an outcast from the reality TV show "Who Wants to Be a Soap Star?" and he passes for straight just about as well as Carol Channing passes for young.

I must admit that while watching this show, I felt much like the character of Ms. Jones (HOW TO SUCCEED...) during the "Brotherhood of Man" number. At first, I was mortified, and disgusted that a show of such poor quality is still selling out. But before I knew it, I - like Ms. Jones - was up on the table with my steno pad dancing along with all the other men. Okay, not really dancing - but I found myself surprisingly entertained. Now, let's not mistake my being entertained for my being captivated by the characters and their situations - I certainly wasn't taken in by the story, and I certainly didn't feel anything for the characters - but I definitely wanted that finale megamix (a la JOSEPH) to last longer than it actually did.

Updated On: 11/5/05 at 10:52 AM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 10:55am

Good to hear that the show is holding up well. I may even have to force myself to sit through it again for Pawk and Dossett, two of my favorite performers.

BTW, just a peeve with me because EVERYBODY seems to get it wrong, it's "Michele" with one L...

Great review, as usual.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 11:00am

I also wanted to add that the show is A LOT more sexual than it was 4 years ago, that's for sure. There is a lot more definite touching and groping, and more sexual references that, although the lines were in the show before, were not interpreted as such until now - or, until recently.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:10pm

Munk, thanks for your review. I was just going to post and ask if anyone's seen the new cast yet...I saw their very first performance and was curious to see how they were doing.

I basically agree with evrything you wrote, particularly about the "sexualization" of the show in recent years, and the need for a bonafide belter as Donna. I do not, however, agree with this statment: "when the performers are no longer top-notch (which they haven't been for quite some time,)".

Carolee Carmello is pretty top-notch in my book.. So is Dee Hoty, even though I wasn't a huge fan of her performance.

Btw, just curious - who did you see as Donna when you came back for the second time and didn't like it? Was it still Louise Pitre? She's by far my favorite.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:16pm

What I meant by "which they haven't been for some time" was that across the boards, the entire cast has never been completely strong. Sure, Carolee Carmello and Dee Hoty are brilliant performers, but you must agree when I say that they were definitely surrounded by less than stellar performers.

The second time was Pitre's understudy...I don't remember her name. She was very good - very VERY good - but the show was just unbearable that time. At that point, much of the original cast was still in the production definitely over a year after it opened, and it was getting stale.

But Pitre, Christ. Her "Winner Takes it All" was so moving and powerful. I adore her CD, "All of My Life Has Led to This," in which she sings "Winner" in both english and french - and both are equally thrilling. She really did give an AMAZING performance in that show...she is very missed.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:18pm

Munk, you probably saw Carol Linnea Johnson go on for Pitre.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:19pm

Yup, the name instantly rung a bell. I thought she was amazing.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:21pm

Oh don't get me started....Pitre is my favorite performer. I LOVED her live "Winner"- it would send chills down my spine. I have all of her cd's and those two versions of "Winner" are among my favorite songs she recorded....What a voice. Thrilling.

About the cast....Sadly, I must admit that you do have a point.

Oh and I love Carol Linnea Johnson. She's wonderful.

Updated On: 11/5/05 at 12:21 PM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:23pm

Munk- You're a Dancing Queen. Admit it!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:31pm

Great review Munk.

I'd like to see this show again...is it worth $100 in your opinion?

Oh, and since you saw it last night, how much longer do you think it'll hold up before ticket sales begin to drop?

[Phantom2]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:31pm

Ticket sales never drop.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:35pm

No, MAMMA MIA! was never worth $100, atleast in my opinion.

I have no prediction on when ticket sales will drop...if you asked me 4 years ago if this show would still be selling out, I would have put my money on NO, but look what happened.

Last night's performance was sold out, though.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 12:41pm

Do Standing Room, like I always do. It really isn't that bad.

I did pay $100, but that was when Louise Pitre was in it.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 1:10pm

That was $100 well spent

I've done standing room before as well - it really isn't that bad.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 4:33pm

great review! ... i still don't know if i'd pay money to see this show though. it's just really not my cup of tea.

i love john dossett. i saw him in gypsy and thought he was so fantastic. he's also great as samantha's NY Nick's fanatic in sex and the city. hehe

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 6:53pm

How's the new Sophie?

[Phantom2]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 6:58pm

How's the new Sky?

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:11pm

How was Britt Shubow as Sophie??

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:21pm

Oh, I was wondering how Carey Anderson was as Sophie. Britt Shubow is the U/S.

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:23pm

My friend who works at the show said Carey hasn't gone on yet. For some reason, I thought she performed a few shows but, I guess my friend would know more than me. I think Britt's been on for like 2 weeks. Also Leah Zepel has been on for Ali instead of Olivia Oguma.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:26pm

Carey's in some pictures on Broadway.com (including an on-stage shot), so that's why I thought that.

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:29pm

you could be so right though. My friend was stuck in Hurricane Wilma in Florida for a few days so perhaps she missed carey then. I also heard Carey took off to get married along with Meghann Dreyfuss who will be back this week after getting married.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:33pm

Like I said, I was just curious. I had done summer stock with Carey several years ago, and was looking at the pictures on Broadway.com and went, "I know her!" Just wondered how she was doing in it!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:22pm

I saw Britt Shubow as Sophie. She was adequate enough, although her acting could be improved upon. She's too dramatic - a little like a soap opera at times, but her voice is okay.

The new Sky (I mentioned in my initial post,) Andy Kelso, is a terrible actor and cannot pass for straight.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:28pm

Shut UP, cathy, John Dossett is the crazy Knicks fan? He was GREAT! (Sorry, but anything SatC-related gets me muy enthused.)

Good review, Munk. I'm a closet ABBA fan - not a Mamma Mia! fan (the "story" is non-existent and the characters are wholly one-dimensional and uninteresting, IMHO) but I've happily seen the show twice just because the songs are so goddamn catchy and I leave the theatre in a good mood.

Who does John Dossett play in the show? Sam?