Mamma Mia! opened with a smashing performance at ASU Gammage on May 27, with standout performances throughout the cast. The show will run until June 1 and will surely please all audiences. From die-hard fans to newcomers, this run of the 2001 musical shines bright for all kinds of audience members.
Though different in many ways from the 2008 film, this stage adaptation of Mamma Mia! is a stunner. The costume design is vibrant, the score lively and the performances spirited.
Christine Sherrill and Amy Weaver delighted audiences as Donna and Sophie Sheridan, exuding a complex energy to the mother-daughter relationship. Sherrill’s vocals displayed how mature Donna is in comparison to her wide-eyed and innocent daughter. Weaver’s physical performance utilized body language and facial expressions to convey just how much finding her father(s) meant to her.
Costuming conveys emotion, and this is an emotional production. In “Slipping Through My Fingers,” Donna is vulnerable and nostalgic in a robe, and Sophie adorns herself for her wedding in white and florals. In contrast, Tanya evokes laughter from the audience in “Does Your Mother Know” as she is dressed in a bright orange swimsuit and cover-up combination. Her duet partner matches her in orange, but she’s the focus of the number. Her personality cannot be dimmed.
Standout supporting cast members included Jalynn Steele in the aforementioned role of Tanya, whose powerhouse vocals and sassy spirit illuminate the classic supporting role. Her chemistry with her best friends, Donna and Rosie, would make any audience member smile and reminisce about their younger days.
The set design, while simple, was purposeful as it allowed for the incredible vocals and overall cast performances to shine. The iconic white buildings with blue doors brought audiences into the Grecian dramedy, with stunning sunset-esque lights signifying the change in pace of the story.
Numbers such as “Lay All Your Love On Me” and “Honey, Honey” had rocky starts, but the cast performances drew the numbers together to bring a beautiful performance to the Gammage audience.
“Voulez-Vous” showcased the ensemble’s dance ability, with a perfect series of self-containing circles surrounding Sophie. The number would not have been as synchronous if not for the performance prowess of the ensemble.
The opening night was one to remember, as audience members exited Gammage Hall singing their own renditions of “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen”. Find tickets to this run of Mamma Mia! at ASU Gammage here.