(spoiler- this will probably be a simpler, less dramatic, less acted-out version of what hear when you come to my
show...so, if you're one of my readers and/or fans, (yes, I give you the option) it's a sneak
preview...that means you, Carolyn...)
The kids love Mamma Mia...and I can't understand why.
I caught a matinee today (never a good idea...but it was free and I couldn't resist). I realized that I would never pay $100 to see it (albiet, the ticket was on a group discount for $60, and again, I didn't pay for it....but I'm just throwing it out there). I also didn't have my glasses on and got a headache halfway through the show from straining to see...
My reasons for my displeasure-
1. It's fucking slow! I'm a big fag and European at heart, so I love ABBA, natch. But the pacing of the show was turtle, at best. I felt like I was at a community theatre that decided to jazz it up with some ABBA. Not cute.
2. You know I like my girls to hit their notes. I think of Agnetha and Frida belting their hearts out at a Eurovision contest in silver lycra and plastic....the Mamma Mia girls...not so much.
3. It's not a dance show. I'm SO fine with that. I watched the cast and their basic choreography thinking- I could SO do this show- and I'm not a dancer. Most of them were fine kicking their feet a few times and raising their hands, double beat to the (pre-recorded) drum. But, you gotta love the fags who gave it their all- teeth and jazz hands and pretended they were in the dream ballet of 'Oklahoma" or 'Moving Out'...save it for the audition and just go with the moment.
4. It was just a bit hockey. Basic set, mediocre voices, simple choreography, sloppy story that was just a segue for some hot, old, kick ass music. The end, where teh cast comes out and re-does 'Mamma Mia' and surprises the audience with 'Waterloo'- totally my favourite and it was worth the two hours to get to that. But the old ladies were dancing in the aisles and half the audience stood up at the end.
But, I'm ok with that- all of it. If you've seen anything on Broadway this year, you know most of it is the same- shambles...
My question is- how has this show been running for 7 years now- and moreover, how is it still completely sold out in-
NYC, Las Vegas, Capetown, Pretoria, Osaka, Antwerp, Edinburgh, Hamburg, London, Madrid, Manchester, Stockholm, Stuttgart and a North American tour... (on anynight, you can catch it in any of those cities)...not to mention the run in Melbourne, Singapore, Toronto, Auckland and a second North American tour...
The shit has been translated into 5 languages...it amazes me and scares me at the same time....but, so long as the peeps are out supporting live theatre and keeping this show alive, it keeps me going and gives me a job. And Madonna sampled 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' for 'Hung Up'...so there is always that element involved....
I don't want to sound ungrateful...almost everyone I know who has seen it loved it. And, again, it was free. I'm glad I saw it after so many years, but I'm even happier that it cost me nothing except two and a half hours of my time. Wait, two and a half hours....mamma mia!
ps- if anyone from the Mamma Mia casting group reads this, I will totally sign tomorrow for a six month contract. I'm not too good for anything...and I can high kick...
