#1
Posted: 4/16/07 at 3:56pm
I went to NYC this past weekend with my family, it was pouring yesterday so we decided to see a broadway show. We chose Mamma Mia because we thought it would be fun for the whole family. I saw the show on broadway a few years ago, and thought it was very entertaining. I then saw the national tour with a friend a few months ago, and loved it. So, I figured this new broadway cast would be even better.
I haven't seen a lot of broadway shows, but I was just not impressed. What has happened to this show?? The Corinne Melcancon as Donna was completely boring and too weak to portray the role (I know she is covering while Carolee Carmello is out, but I don't think even Carolee could make up for the rest of the principal cast). In "Dancing Queen" you couldn't hear her voice at all. There was no chemistry between her and David McDonald's Sam, and it made it feel as though the wedding at the end came out of nowhere. I felt both Donna and Tanya were overacting their parts and had no connection with the characters.
As for the three dad's, they were all poorly cast. I seriously can not explain how bad Harry was (acting and singing). It got to the point where I could not stop laughing at how bad "Our last Summer" was, I was about to leave the theatre. Bill went in and out of his Australian accent throughout the show and Sam was portrayed as very corny.
The ensemble was very entertaining, and Carey Anderson was a very good Sophie, but those are really the only good things I can say about the show.
The casting for this show has led it to lose its spark of fun and laughter. It was nowhere near worth the $110 dollars for a ticket. I don't remember exact names of the people I saw on the tour, but the casting was so much better (especially Donna, Tanya, Harry, and Bill). Bring those people over.
I haven't seen a lot of broadway shows, but I was just not impressed. What has happened to this show?? The Corinne Melcancon as Donna was completely boring and too weak to portray the role (I know she is covering while Carolee Carmello is out, but I don't think even Carolee could make up for the rest of the principal cast). In "Dancing Queen" you couldn't hear her voice at all. There was no chemistry between her and David McDonald's Sam, and it made it feel as though the wedding at the end came out of nowhere. I felt both Donna and Tanya were overacting their parts and had no connection with the characters.
As for the three dad's, they were all poorly cast. I seriously can not explain how bad Harry was (acting and singing). It got to the point where I could not stop laughing at how bad "Our last Summer" was, I was about to leave the theatre. Bill went in and out of his Australian accent throughout the show and Sam was portrayed as very corny.
The ensemble was very entertaining, and Carey Anderson was a very good Sophie, but those are really the only good things I can say about the show.
The casting for this show has led it to lose its spark of fun and laughter. It was nowhere near worth the $110 dollars for a ticket. I don't remember exact names of the people I saw on the tour, but the casting was so much better (especially Donna, Tanya, Harry, and Bill). Bring those people over.
