Theater Reviews

Jun 3, 2009 - An exhilarating "Mamma Mia!" opens at Reno's Pioneer Center

By Jack Neal

“Mamma Mia!,” the stage musical, and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the movie, have much in common – a generous nod towards pop Greek culture and immense popularity.

Set on a Greek Island somewhere in the pastel waters of the Mediterranean, “Mamma Mia” mesmerizes with the opulence of its attractive, yet simple sets and exceptional lighting, it’s flamboyant and colorful costumes, a cast that sings and dances splendidly, and the infectious disco music of the Swedish singing group Abba.

“Mamma Mia!” opened Tuesday (6/2/09) night at Reno’s Pioneer Center before a near capacity audience that roared its approval at every opportunity. Even cranky critics of theater (musical and otherwise) find the show much too vibrant and ingratiating not to love.

“Mamma Mia!” has even more in common with the 1968 movie, “Buono Sera, Mrs. Campbell,” starring Gina Lollobridgida, Shelley Winters, Telly Savalas, and Phil Silvers. Catherine Johnson’s book for “Mamma Mia!” about a young bride who invites her possible fathers (three men she’s never met) to her wedding, borrows directly from the movie.

What Johnson has cleverly done is to take 22 songs composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (assisted by Stig Anderson) and weave the story around the lyrics of many of Abba’s hits ranging from “Dancing Queen” through “Thank You For the Music.” Johnson is a smart lady. In March 2002, “Mamma Mia” became the highest grossing show in North America ($3.7 million in a single week). Success breeds success. The touring production which has just now made its way to Reno is flawless.

Mark Thompson’s set design is handsome and ingenious in its simplicity. His costume designs are as attractive as they are flashy and they are very flashy. Howard Harrison’s magical lighting is superb and fleshes out the look of scene after scene. Martin Koch’s vocal and instrumental arrangements are topnotch and very listenable. The sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken delivers a live-performance quality that captures the essence of the Abba sound.

Anthony Van Laast’s dazzling choreography is creative (imagine tap dancing in swim fins) and smashingly brought off. Director Phyllida Lloyd maintains a pace and exuberance that’s breathtaking. The pit band is the same configuration (four keyboards, two guitars, a bass, drums and percussion) as the one used in New York. Impressively, conductor Bill Congdon has kept the production’s impeccably precise performances in opening-night form.

The high-energy cast of thirty-two is never anything less than sensational. Michelle Dawson is Donna Sheridan (Mamma Mia). She is perfection and a power-house singer. Rachel Tyler (Tanya) is Mamma Mia’s slim, beautifully preserved sidekick from the past. She’s the enticing older lady (echoes of Mrs. Robinson) who attracts an impetuous younger man. Adam Michael Kaokept is marvelous as Pepper, the impetuous, persistent younger man. She’s a tease and he loves it. She to him: “But I’m old enough to be your mother.” He to her: “Just call me Oedipus.” Both give knock-out performances.

Kittra Wynn Coomer (Rosie), Mamma Mia’s no-longer-so-chic sidekick, (her once-sexy spandex is now more boa than body stocking) is also loads of fun. Liana Hunt is Sophie Sheridan, the daughter of the piece and the bride-to-be. She’s a charmer and very appealing. Adam Jacobs is Sky, the prospective groom, and he is the ultimate dashing young man. The prospective fathers of the bride, Michael Aaron Lindner (Harry), Martin Kildare (Bill) and John Hemphill (Sam) are each in his own way quite magnetic.

All that, plus fabulous curtain calls with nearly as many costume changes as Auntie Mame, and “Mamma Mia!” hits the bull’s-eye as a great-big Broadway hit that’s current and choice – and much too entertaining to miss.

“Mamma Mia!,” the last offering of the current season in The Broadway Comes to Reno series, can be seen at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, June 2 (the performance reviewed) through June 5 (2009) at 7:30 p.m., June 6 (2009) at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and June 7 (2009) at 2 and 7 p.m. For information call 775-686-6600, 877-840-0457, or go on line at PioneerCenter.com.