Sophe (Liana Hunt) finds herself embroiled in a hilarious musical search for her true father. (Photo courtesy of Carol Rosegg)
“Mamma Mia,” playing at the Fox Theater Feb. 16-20, could rival any Broadway play in energy, heart and toe-tapping catchiness. Perhaps most surprising about the show’s recent appearance on the St. Louis stage was how eye-wateringly funny it was. Beginning and ending with laughs, the entire cast was not afraid to be silly on stage, using physical comedy to their advantage and seeming to enjoy every minute of it. Seeing the cast have so much fun on stage was infectious and the entire house smiled.
In fact, the two actresses that coaxed the most laughter out of the audience were the standout performances of the show, and they played supporting roles. From the moment the two friends Rosie (Kittra Wynn Coomer) and Tanya (Rachel Tyler) showed up on the Greek island to greet Donna Sheridan (Michelle Dawson), they stole the stage. More energetic than the show’s 20-something engaged couple, the duo’s attitude and chemistry were enthralling.
Disappointingly, Dawson was not as appealing as her two kooky best friends. When she sang the show’s namesake “Mamma Mia,” her voice could not keep up with the swelling instrumentals or the Greek chorus of backup singers. Her soft voice went well with slower songs such as “The Winner Takes it All” or “Our Last Summer,” and her rendition of “Slipping through my Fingers,” a song about losing a child to adulthood, was bittersweet and heartwarming. However, her voice was not cut out for the more upbeat Abba tunes, keeping those songs from being the standout numbers they are intended to be.
Despite Dawson’s voice, her performance as Sophie’s (Liana Hunt) independent mother was convincing. Hunt herself was adorable as the idealistic fiancee, and the audience certainly rooted for her when she was hiding her “dads” from her mother when they first arrive on the isle.
Those who have seen the play before, or the movie version of “Mamma Mia,” know that the premise of the show revolves around Sophie inviting three men to her wedding in Greece, any of whom could be her father. The men have not seen her mother for 20 years and have since grown into middle-age, returning to the island with careers and even ex-wives. They are Sam Carmichael (John Sanders), the straight-laced architect; Bill Austin (Matthew Ashford), the boisterous world-traveler; and Harry Bright (Vincent Corazza), the rich Brit, formally known as “Harry Head-Banger.” With such dynamic personalities, the three dads are a riot when they interact, and once they all believe themselves to be Sophie’s father, hilarity ensues.
Thematically, “Mamma Mia” explores the meaning of the word “family.” By the end of the play, the entire tiny island seems to be one big family, and no one even cares who Sophie’s biological father is. The musical is definitely worth seeing by those who enjoy musical theater or the band Abba, but also for those who like to laugh at silly dancing by men in flippers, or those who cannot help crying at weddings. Anyone who liked the movie “Mamma Mia” will love the play at the Fox, as the play is funnier, more exciting, and certainly better sung than the screen adaptation. Nothing rivals live theater, especially at the Fabulous Fox.