mamma mia audiences?

[Lorelai]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 3:50pm

I haven't seen this show (nor do I really have an interest in it) but one of my friends loves ABBA, saw the show and was disappointed. She said the plot was awful but the music was entertaining and would have been a lot more fun if the audience that night had been more into it. I think she means like people standing up and dancing so I was wondering...has anyone ever been to a performance where people go really into the show's music?

[Lorelai]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:32am

bump?

[BwayLover]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:00pm

I've actually been to more than a few performances where the audience was really, really into it - and it was wonderful! The energy was great as a result, cause the performers feel it too.

Maybe she attended a Wednesday matinee?....

[Copeman63]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:03pm

I've seen the show many times, and it is better when the audience gets into it, just like any show. The performers feed off the audiences reaction, then they perform better. But Mamma Mia! is also based on huge hits from the 70s, which gets more of a reaction then a regular showtune. Some of the better audiences I remember were torwards the first two years... Not sure how they are now... I think the best I've seen was when half the audience got up and was rocking out during the first act's Dancing Queen, it was awesome. Usually the audience will dance along to the end megamix, but I've seen it differ... One night it was so depressing, because not a soul stood up, and I was hankering to dance, but at 6'6, I didn't want to block peoples view...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:13pm

I agree with Copeman----during the first couple of years, the audience of Mamma Mia was much more exhuberant----dancing, clapping, etc. (especially my first experience----each and every audience member was wild). I think that many people are repeats and maybe not as enthusiastic-----???---but the audiences have not been as bouncy lately (at the shows I've been to anyway). (and I LOVE to stand and clap, but like Copeman, don't want to block anyone or look like an idiot) :)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:58pm

I went with my school to see it and found my teachers singing along, which was sorta cool. And I still don't see how the plot is bad. I mean, I was totatlly engulfed in the plot. At intermission I remember talking with my classmates and being like "whose the father? who will it be?" I thought it was a pretty imaginative plot. Though I still wonder why they picked Greece.

[Janean]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 1:47pm

Last week when the tour was in town, people weren't standing and dancing until the end bows and concert-portion. But all around me there were older parents (or grandparents) and young kids swaying in their seats, swaying their arms, 'dancing' with each other during the overture and entreact. But this is a conservative town, people don't get up and dance for anything.

The songs are STILL buzzing through my brain, and that's not a bad thing. I'm not an ABBA fan per-se, I remember hearing a few of the songs as a kid on the radio. I got totally socked into the show. Very fun. Although I think this, and most other 'jukebox musicals' should be billed as a "Theatrical Concert." The plot was a minor point, but added some different layers of meaning to the songs.

Greek island: Well, ABBA is European, and the original show was produced in England, and a lot of people in Europe and the British Isles go to Greece for their vacations (remember Shirley Valentine?) And it provides a fabulous unspoken pun: Greek residents interjecting on Donna's situation (in Money Money Money and popping their heads up on Mamma Mia I think?). They're a chorus... commenting on the action... and Greek... A GREEK CHORUS. Euripedes would be so proud.

[tourboi]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 2:39pm

Having seen the First Natl Tour more times than God, the second national, Vegas (oy), Toronto many times, and Broadway many times...

Usually the audiences are wonderful. The most boring audience I saw the show with was in Vegas...they just weren't into it at all, then again, the production was the most lackluster, lacking in energy MAMMA I've seen. I hear it's better now....

The recent Ottawa run of tour 2 had audiences going absolutely insane. Broadway's a bit more reserved these days...although last night the crowd was on its feet dancing for the finale. Toronto audiences just adored the show too, and danced most of the times I saw the show.

But the best audience reception? The opening night of the First National Tour at LA's Pantages...they were an AWESOME audience.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 6:21pm

went Friday night to Pasadena....It's such a bad space for a show, with no orchestra pit, so the audience is that much further from the stage.

Reaction overall was good, lots of big laughs in the right places and they even clapped along during "You Can Change Your Mind", which was a neat suprise. HOWEVER, they didn't get up and start dancing...lots of swaying and clapping, but no dancing, which I was dying to do!

I think part of the problem is that they fire up the megamix so fast after the bows, it seems like part of the show, so the audience seems reluctant to stand up for the actors before it's really over. Maybe a clean break after the bow.....and how about this? Why can't they invite the audience to stand up and dance!? "Hey (insert city name here) get up on your feet and sing along with us!" or words to that affect. It sure beats sweating your ass off to a tableau.

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 6:44pm

I saw the show in London. Everybody there was more middle aged and they all seemed to get into it and enjoy it, but then again everybody there was practically drunk, so that could have been a factor.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 6:47pm

I saw it twice on Broadway. The first time, with the original cast (with almost all understudies), the whole audience was standing and dancing by the finale. The 2nd time, with Carolee Carmello (well, her understudy and a horrible supporting cast/ensemble), the audience barely applauded.

I think it had something to do with the horrible sound system at the Car theater.

[wexy]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 7:39pm

When my sister saw it, she this guy with a birthmark like the Phillipine Islands going beserk dancing in the orchestra.

It was Mikhail Gorbachev.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 1:51am

I really love this show! Maybe I've gotten a little too into ABBA but the music is fun. I've heard people say that they don't like the story line, but it makes it funny and enjoyable. I've seen the show in vegas 3 times, so maybe that makes a difference, but I always stand up at the end, everyone claps, and most stand up.