WE could come up with innumerable explanations as to why Hot Shoe Entertainment’s latest production Mamma Mia! broke all grounds in being one of the most larger-than-life theatre productions that Chennai has ever seen in recent times. One of them could be the whopping production value that has gone into it. It could also be the fact that it has been rendered from the smash hit Broadway musical that gained renown world over. But the most significant one would certainly be the ABBA spell!
Whatever the reason, when the show premiered in the city on Saturday night, it had Chennai swept off its feet. The expectations had already been fed, thanks to the promos and the glitzy previews that took place in the city’s night clubs, hotels and studios, weeks before the show. And so when the D- day arrived, people showed up overwhelming numbers at The Music Academy.
And like it has been the unprescribed rule (rather expectation), Mamma Mia! began with a little tribute to the King of Pop, letting him know how he is still very much missed, more so, when we’re talking about memorable music here.
For those of you new to the production, Mamma Mia!, directed by Mithran Devanesen and produced by Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar, takes us on a hilarious, yet poignant journey with Sophie, who stumbles upon her mother, Donna’s old diary a day before she’s about to get married. This leads to revelations about three men, who could be her possible fathers. Shocked and excited at the same time, Sophie is determined to find out her true dad to walk her down the aisle.
Jeffrey Vardon’s zelous, energetic choreography teamed with Timothy Madhukar’s music - ABBA’s best smashits most of us have grown up listening to - I have a dream, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Does your mother know, Money Money Money and of course, Mamma Mia, had the audience swaying, singing along and even taking up the stage to shake a leg. The songs, which were performed live, even brought to light a few actors and never their known singing abilities, like Poppy’s (who plays Rosie) wild, pacy voice Kavita’s (who plays Sophie) smooth, flawless voice, Swapna Abraham’s (who plays Donna) stunning intense, pitches (particularly in the performance of The Winner takes it all), and Arjun Thomas’s, (who plays Sam) soulful romantic numbers. Mamma Mia! boiled down to a grand finale with Jeffrey and Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar’s splendid dance sequence.
After leaving Chennai absolutely delirious Mamma Mia! next goes to Hyderabad on July 19 and Bangalore on July 24 and 25, before heading for Mumbai, Singapore and Dubai.
saranyachakrapani@epmltd.com