Jordan Catalano said: "So I'm home now and able to process the show a bit. I really can't think of anything to criticize about it. If there were issues with the show in Chicago, they've used this time amazingly well to their advantage. One of the things that most surprised me was that it never felt like you were watching a "musical". The acting never felt like musical-theatre acting (if that makes sense) which is what these true-story shows need and the trap they all fall into, except for this one "
The only thing I really noticed in Chicago was that the flashback scenes were too numerous and too short, so they kind of made parts of the show feel chopped up. I also thought the post-crash story dragged a bit. I wouldn't really call them "issues" per se and the show was still enjoyable, but I saw those as things that could be easy tweaks so I wonder if they made changes in that regard. Glad you enjoyed it so much, and I completely agree re: the fact that you didn't feel like you were watching a "musical." Since the songs really are a PART of the actual story, they didn't feel artificial at all. And I LOVED the dancing--in my mind it's the real highlight of the show. I wanted to get up and dance in the aisles! Especially in the first act.
Now I'm kind of wanting to see this again in NY, despite my initial statements that I wouldn't. :) I won't have a chance for awhile because this season is so chock full of things I want to see, so hopefully it will stick around.
I keep saying I don't like jukebox musicals. But I liked Jersey Boys and I liked this (better than Jersey Boys) so I'm starting to think maybe I just don't like Mamma Mia. :)