Jeri Tidwell Photography
I grew up with the music of ABBA, and it’s safe to say most people are familiar with their multitude of hits. And of course, most people also know those songs were folded into a Broadway musical that ran for more than 5,700 performances. I was fortunate enough to see the final tour of Mamma Mia! when it came to Baltimore in January of 2017. I enjoyed the show, the cast and, most of all, the music which actually seemed a bit more important than the story. It has to be difficult to construct a story around already established songs instead of having the songs grow out of the story so I have to give credit to Catherine Johnson for managing to construct a story that could tie those songs together. The problem with the touring version was that it was more about the songs than the story and in the end it felt a bit hollow. So I had some trepidation about seeing the show again — even though I love the songs.
If you’re not up to speed with the story of Mamma Mia!, it’s fairly simple — young Sophie Sheridan is about to get married. Her mother has been running a taverna on a Greek island for the last 21 years, but Sophie knows nothing about her father. So she ‘borrows’ her mother Donna’s old diary and discovers her father could be one of three men: Harry Bright, Bill Austen or Sam Carmichael. Wanting to know who she is and where she came from before her wedding, she invites all three men to the wedding but posing as Donna. They arrive, Donna freaks out, and it takes the men a while to catch on as to why they’re there but all three of them decide separately that they want to walk their ‘daughter’ down the aisle. But the question remains, which one is the father and does Sophie really need that information to figure out who she is?
If I was uneasy about seeing Mamma Mia! for a second time before going in, I was ready to see it a third time by the end of the show. Toby’s Dinner Theatre production of Mamma Mia! is a revelation. There is quite a difference between seeing what is really an intimate show on a big stage and in a small, in-the-round setting. You feel as if you’re part of the story as you sit just a few feet away from the actors rather than a few yards away in a theatre. You can see the emotion on the actors’ faces and you become invested in their story.
Jeri Tidwell Photography
And where that story seemed, on the big stage, contrived to fit an established musical narrative, here director Mark Minnick has found the real heart and soul of the story. This production is just packed with emotion that will make you laugh and cry as it draws you in right from the beginning. Minnick has a long list of terrific work at Toby’s but I have to say that his interpretation of Mamma Mia! is simply terrific. He’s drawn out great performances from his cast, he’s kept David A. Hopkins’ lighting restrained (compared to the blinding whiteness of the touring show), he’s staged the musical numbers in a way that allows the ensemble to sing background from the various entrances to the stage without actually intruding into the number, he’s come up with some creative choreography that is carried out flawlessly by the cast, and he’s made sure the orchestra never over-powers the singing. Mark Smedley’s sound design for this show is probably the best I’ve experienced at Toby’s.
The cast is fabulous. In the touring production, I found Sophie and her friends to be just a little too over-the-top at the start of the show. Here, Maggie Dransfield (making her Toby’s debut) plays Sophie not as an entitled brat but as a charming young woman in the throes of love. Her dream to find her father doesn’t seem so much as selfishness, rather just something to help her feel complete (even if others around her think it is a selfish thing to do especially since her mother obviously had reasons for never sharing this information before). Dransfield just brings a sweetness to the role that really helps the audience follow Sophie’s dream.
Jeri Tidwell Photography
Heather Marie Beck is also terrific as Donna, a woman who loves her daughter and her single life deeply and we feel that love and the conflict within her as she is suddenly and unexpectedly confronted by the three men in her life she thought she’d never see again. Coby Kay Callahan and Tess Rohan are also wonderful as Donna’s old pals Tanya and Rosie. Darren McDonnell and Russell Sunday are great as Harry and Bill, and Toby’s newcomer Paul Roeckell turns in a nice performance as Sophie’s fiancé Sky. The other potential father, Sam, is played by Toby’s regular Jeffrey Shankle. Shankle usually has a role in a Toby’s show, big or small but generally in a more comedic capacity (he was terrific as the lead in Young Frankenstein). Here he gets to play a more serious character and I was just so impressed by this performance. Not only that, but the songs Sam gets to sing really showcased Shankle’s amazing voice. I know he’s a very talented actor and singer, but here he just blew me away. That’s not to take away from anyone else in the show. This is one of the most solid casts I’ve seen at Toby’s, from the leads right on down to the ensemble who give it their all in every number (and when they all sing together … it’s magic).
At this point, I’m just at a loss for words to describe just how wonderful this production of Mamma Mia! is. If you’re already a fan of the show, there’s no way you won’t enjoy it (and I had just as much fun watching a woman singing along with the cast as I did watching the show). If you’ve assumed the show is just a showcase for the classic songs with a trifle of a story, I think you will be impressed with what director Minnick and his cast have been able to draw out of the script, giving audiences an truly emotional and uplifiting evening (or afternoon for you matinee-goers) of entertainment. Tickets are going fast, so make your reservations today!
Jeri Tidwell Photography
And don’t forget, with your ticket comes a delicious meal from the Toby’s buffet. The dinner includes garlic and buttered green beans, cinnamon-glazed carrots, red potatoes, mac and cheese, baked chicken, ribs, baked fish, a carving station, salad bar, ice cream sundae bar and more! And as always, there is a special drink tied to the show. This time it’s ‘The Dynamo’ (named for Donna’s 1970s girl group with Tanya and Rosie), a frozen lemony concoction that comes in an ‘adult’ version as well with a little added vodka (but don’t worry, it’s not overly boozy), topped with thick whipped cream and a lemon jelly candy. It is yummy … and you get to keep the souvenir Mamma Mia! glass!
Mamma Mia! runs about 2 hours 30 minutes with one twenty minute intermission. Note that fog, haze and strobe effects are used in this production. The show runs through September 9, 2018. Toby’s next production is Ain’t Misbehavin’ opening September 14.
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Check our Ticketmaster link for ticket availability.
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