REVIEW: Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Cleveland, OH--6/29/04

[BwayTheatre11]

REVIEW: Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Cleveland, OH--6/29/04#0

Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:12pm

Last night, I had the opportunity to go see Mamma Mia! at the State Theatre, which is part of Playhouse Square Center (now the largest performing arts complex next to New York City). Let me start by saying that I saw Tour 2 back in 2002 and thought that the current cast has a lot of better features. I guess I will just start from the beginning...

Being an aspiring lighting designer, walking into the theatre was a very exciting part of my night. The show curtain just glows and really gets people thinking that this is going to be a fun show. As I walk further and further down the aisle to my seat (Row G Center), I was suprised when I hit Row G...it was the 2nd row! Usually, E is the starting row, but F was! This was exciting because I could see the performers facial expressions and concentrate on the lighting.

The orchestra was amazing...4 keyboards, electric drums, Bass, Guitar. The overture began and it was great! I wish they had the Mamma Mia! part of the overture on the CD.

The curtain came up and there was Sara Kramer (Sophie Sheridan). Beautiful girl. The opening was not too good, though. She needed to warm up a little bit more. Throughout the show, she improved, and by the end of act I, she was great! I am going to have to go with Kristen Mardsen (sp?) as a better Sophie. She was on from the get-go, which is important.

Tiffani Barbour (Ali) and Bekah Nutt (Lisa u/s) were very energetic, especially Tiffani. They did very well.

Ah, the fabulous Lauren Mufson (Donna Sheridan). It has been a while since I saw Monique Lund, but I am going to have to go with Lauren on this one. She was AMAZING! AMAZING voice, AMAZING acting, AMAZING look. She was very good and I am glad she was my Donna.

Lori Haley Fox (Tanya) and E. Faye Butler (Rosie) were also amazing. Lori had the perfect look for the rich snob and an African-American Rosie is perfect! Faye did so much with the role of Rosie. The Dynamos were an awesome combination of performers!

Now to the MEN. The 3 dads were good, nothing too great. Jared Zeus (Sky) was also just ok. He is cute and everything, good voice, but he just did not do it for me. May I add that I love built men in purple wet suits dancing around??

Fun show, great cast, great time.

Sorry, I am not too good at writing reviews.

www.playhousesquare.com

CCM '10!

Updated On: 6/30/04 at 04:12 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

re: REVIEW: Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Cleveland, OH--6/29/04#1

Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:26pm

This is a great review! Nice job! And I hope you had fun!!!

[DAME]

re: REVIEW: Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Cleveland, OH--6/29/04#2

Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:42pm

Great review. However not sure about that claim of "now the largest performing arts complex next to New York City."

HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

[BwayTheatre11]

re: REVIEW: Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Cleveland, OH--6/29/04#3

Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:48pm

I would talk to the Center, then. They said it was the second largest about a year ago, and now they say it is the largest.

CCM '10!

[chinkie azn jai]

re: REVIEW: Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Cleveland, OH--6/29/04#4

Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:48pm

Good review! I was debating on whether or not to see Mamma Mia! for a second time on tour (with tour 2). haha my friend really wants me to go with her because she thinks Jared Zeus is hot. Its too bad he hasnt an outstanding voice.

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

[vjRichie]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#5

Posted: 6/30/04 at 6:48pm

This tour plays Columbus Ohio in August - check out bway11's Travlin' B'way site.

Discounted tickets available also at
www.broadwayacrossamrica.com/groupsales
enter password - showtunes
MM discount tickets

"I've had two years to grow claws, Mother, and they're Jungle Red!" Mary Haines - The Women

Updated On: 6/30/04 at 06:48 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#6

Posted: 6/30/04 at 9:49pm

Wow. I was looking at my playbill from Mamma Mia! tour 2 in 2002 and Gerard Salvador and Anthony Cefala are still in the cast! I saw them both times. Also, Mike Cannon, who is now in bare, was in the show in 2002. Just thought I would add that.

One more thing...anyone in the Cleveland area, FOX 8 news said that 2 stars from the show Mamma Mia! (I assume Jared and Sara) will perform live on their morning show!

CCM '10!

[Phantom2]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#7

Posted: 6/30/04 at 11:20pm

Maybe you can catch Tour 1. P.J. Griffith is a very good as Sky.

"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

[BwayTheatre11]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#8

Posted: 6/30/04 at 11:39pm

It will not be anywhere near me.

CCM '10!

[Phantom2]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#9

Posted: 6/30/04 at 11:42pm

Well, maybe you need to be like Mistress and Hairspray and just go to IT! Speaking of Mistress, has anyone seen her?

"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

Updated On: 6/30/04 at 11:42 PM

[Matt_G]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#10

Posted: 6/30/04 at 11:45pm

Mistress is taking a sabatical for a while. She said she would return, though!

"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."

[BwayTheatre11]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#11

Posted: 7/1/04 at 12:23am

Age and money restricts me from doing so, Phantom. My mom did say something about flying to Vegas for a weekend to see Mamma Mia!, which is supposed to be amazing! It won't happen...

CCM '10!

Updated On: 7/1/04 at 12:23 AM

[Phantom2]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#12

Posted: 7/1/04 at 12:26am

The Las Vegas cast is excellent.

"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

[broadwayguy2]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#13

Posted: 7/1/04 at 12:43am

Mamma Mia. Here I go again!

[BwayTheatre11]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#14

Posted: 7/1/04 at 9:08am

I just finished watching Mamma Mia! on the news. Sara Kramer (Sophie) and Jared Zeus (Sky) were on representing the show. Sara looked beautiful and Jared looked amazingly hott! Throughout the newscast they had different clips from the show. Finally, the two performed "Lay All Your Love On Me," which sounded awful! I do not blame them...they had to hold huge mics, and Jared's was not as loud as Sara's...this really showed when they sang harmony...during this part Sara went flat and it was blasting over Jared. It was still very exciting.

CCM '10!

Updated On: 7/1/04 at 09:08 AM

[BwayTheatre11]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#15

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:34am

Here is a review from the local newspaper...they loved it!
Effervescent 'Mia' ABBAsolutely terrific

CCM '10!

[mmFan]

Mamma Mia! Tour 2 in Columbus Ohio Aug 10-15#16

Posted: 7/2/04 at 8:43am

Hi there,
I have never seen the US Tour (just Toronto and NY), but I have to second a couple things you said:
a) I also wish they put the entire overture on the cd. It's amazing..and even more so when you're there in person and can hear each and every instrument
b) I also LOVE the front rows. You obviously miss out on seeing parts of the production as a whole (e.g. dancing scenes such as Voulez Vouz), but seeing the actor's expressions (and even microphones) is totally worth the trade off.

Thanks for the review. I'm a huge MM fan so I love hearing about what people think (even if I haven't seen that specific production)