Age Cannot Wither Her: 'MAMMA MIA!' Tour's Still Got It

By: Jan. 20, 2010
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Here Chicago goes again!

The North American Tour of the international uber hit MAMMA MIA! is visiting the Rosemont Theatre for a mini stint through this Sunday, January 24th.  And boy, what a wallop the cast and crew is cramming into their short stay upon Mark Thompson's touringly reduced Greek taverna.

For anyone out of the MAMMA MIA! plot loop, here's all you need to know: one bride, three possible fathers, three kickin' Baby Boomer songstresses, and 22 or so ABBA hits. The bride to be is Sophie, played by the lovely-voiced but timidly-robust Lianna Hunt, and her ever-goofy but charming beau is Sky, suavely portrayed by the handsome Adam Jacobs. Arriving the day of the wedding (to throw the island into a tizzy) are her three possible fathers (things were wilder in "the olden times"): Harry (Martin Kildare), Sam (the smooth pop tenor John Hemphill), and Bill (Chicagoan Michael Aaron Linder, whose comedic timing and vocals appropriately steal his scenes).

But life on the island is run by the ladies.  Michelle Dawson runs the show as Donna, Sophie's single mother / former ABBAesque rocker.  Donna's dynamic duo (Rachel Tyler and stand-out Kitta Wynn Coomer) shimmy, shake, and entendre-ly score their way through the proceedings.  Coomer and Tyler use their voices and bodies to the fullest effect, always knowing when and how to bravely roll, slide, or -again- shimmy across the stage (I can't help it; there's a lot of shimmying goin' on). When the Three ABBAteers rock out on "Dancing Queen" and "Super Trooper," you see glimpses of your mother, aunt, sister, girlfriend, college roommate, and maybe even yourself having the time of their lives.  It's smile-inducing fun.

For a jukebox musical, MAMMA's plot waters run less shallow than, say, the flops GOOD VIBRATIONS or ALL SHOOK UP, but when a show is "based on the songs of ABBA," the star is the score.  There are times when Ms. Hunt and Ms. Dawson could let loose more and let their vocals soar, but the "I Have a Dream" finale and "The Winner Takes It All" (sung respectively) are absolutely thrilling.  Anthony Van Laast's choreography and Howard Harrison's lighting design pops upon Rosemont's regularly cavernous stage.  This tour is in wonderful shape thanks to the cast's enthusiasm, as well as their relatively in-tact set and lighting plot. 

Sure, MAMMA MIA! is full of saucy Spandex'd fluff, achy back gags, and boob-grabbing, but what more could one ask for on a musical trip down memory lane?  Take a chance on it while it's here.

MAMMA MIA! runs now through Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Rosemont Theatre.  For tickets, please visit Ticketmaster.com or BroadwayInChicago.com.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg



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