<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Palatino;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br></span></b></p><p style="color:rgb(153,51,153)" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino">MAMMA MIA!, back again
and totally entertaining</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino">(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">When a touring production
of a hit Broadway show returns to the area for yet another visit, the question asked
is, Is this as good as not only the original production, but of the last
edition that hit town?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Just to make this clear
at the start, Yes, the newest incarnation of MAMMA MIA!, now on stage at the
Palace Theatre, is a thoroughly entertaining theatrical experience.<span style> </span>The quality of the acting is excellent,
the show is nicely mounted, and except for an overly loud sound system, which
had some squeals and which projected the music so loudly that the woman in
front of me took out her hearing aid, things went well.<span style> </span>The audience was on its feet for the
extended curtain call, dancing, clapping, and singing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">BTW
dont run for the
exits as soon as you think the show is over.<span style> </span>Its not.<span style> </span>There
is a remix of lots of the songs, some new dance moves, and an interactive love
affair between the dynamic cast and the audience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">MAMMA MIA! is a unique script.<span style> </span>Most story-line shows have a lyricist,
composer and book writer who work together to develop the script.<span style> </span>This show didnt follow that
pattern.<span style> </span>The songs were all
developed before there was any thought of a musical play.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The music and lyrics, by
Benny Andersson and Bjφrn Ulvaeus, with additional songs by Stig Anderson, were
all performed by ABBA, the Swedish pop-rock group, in their concerts and albums.<span style> </span>Catharine Johnson loosely wove a story
around the songs.<span style> </span>The result is a
delightful, basically well-integrated musical.<span style> </span>The songs and spoken lines generally flow together to
develop a cute chick-flick story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Its an unnamed island in
Greece.<span style> </span>Sophie, a twenty year-old,
is about to get married to Sky.<span style>
</span>Her single mom, Donna, who owns a small island resort, has never
revealed the identity of Sophies father.<span style>
</span>Sophie unearths her mothers diary from the year before Sophies
birthday.<span style> </span>Romances with three
different men are revealed.<span style> </span>Any of
them could be daddy.<span style> </span>Sophie
wants to be given away by her dad, so, without her mothers knowledge, she
invites all three to the wedding, hoping to find out the sperm donor.<span style> </span>Other wedding guests include Tanya and
Rosie, Donnas former 60s girls group members, and Ali and Lisa, Sophies buds.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Through humorous twists,
pseudo dramatic instances, and some great music, <i style>The Winner Takes All</i>.<span style>
</span>Along the line the audience is rocked with such songs and production
numbers as <i style>Dancing Queen</i>, <i style>Does Your Mother Know</i>, <i style>I Have a Dream</i>, <i style>Our Last Summer</i>, <i style>Super
Trouper</i>, and <i style>Voulez-Vous</i>, leaving
the audience shouting, <i style>Thank You for the
Music</i>.<span style> </span>There is no way you
arent going to leave the theatre without singing one or more of the scores
great songs on the way to your car.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Director Phyllida Lloyd
has added some line and story interpretations that enhance the story, such as
having Kaye Tuckerman, who plays Donna, interpret the role with a slightly hard
edge, instead of the cutesy interpretation that is so common.<span style> </span>It makes Donna into a real person.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Choreographer Anthony
VanLaast does a nice job of reinterpreting the dance numbers.<span style> </span>Martin Kochs musical interpretation marred
by the overly loud sound system.<span style>
</span>The songs are well sung, with word meanings being stressed. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The cast is excellent.<span style> </span>Cloe Tucker sings well and is adorable
as the conflicted Sophie.<span style> </span>Happy
Mahaney is a dynamic dancer, and well interprets and sings the role of Sky,
Sophies husband to be.<span style> </span>Alison
Ewing is delightful as the swinging Tanya.<span style> </span>Mary Callanan steals the show as the husband seeking (<i style>Take A Chance on Me) </i>Rosie.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Studly Christian Whelan
(Sam), Crocodile Dundee-like John-Michael Zuerlein (Bill) and Paul Deboy, as
gay Brit, Harry, are excellent as the three candidates for whos my dad?<span style> </span>They are especially delightful in the
curtain call.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: The newest revival of MAMA MIA!
is once again an audience pleasing delight.<span style> </span>If you havent seen it before, go!<span style> </span>If you have, go again!<span style>
</span>This is an excellent touring company!</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Tickets for MAMMA MIA!,
which runs through July 22 at the Palace Theatre, can be ordered by calling
216-241-6000 or going to <a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">www.playhousesquare.org</span></a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Palatino;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Lucida Console";
panose-1:2 11 6 9 4 5 4 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
color:black;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff">Roy
Berko's commentaries and reviews appear on
<a href="http://coolcleveland.com">coolcleveland.com</a>,<a href="http://neohiopal.com">neohiopal.com</a>,<a href="http://artsamerica.com">artsamerica.com</a>,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:rgb(0,113,255)">and
<a href="http://broadwaynews.com">broadwaynews.com</a>.<span style> </span>His blog is: <a href="http://www.royberko.info">www.royberko.info</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:rgb(0,113,255)"><br>
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff"><span style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"></span><br>
</span></p>