Ooooh, Mamma! Smoking Moves and Catchy Tunes Take the Stage

The playbill for the Broadway and West End hit musical Mamma Mia’s Manila debut promises the same regaling musical entertainment for Filipino theater goers.

Another international act debuted in the Philippine theater scene last month.

Broadway and West End hit musical Mamma Mia’s international tour takes centerstage in Manila and regaled audiences with superb discography, beautiful stage design, and engaging musical renditions.  The story of Sophie and her covert maneuverings to bring her mom Donna’s three paramours, one of which could possibly be her dad, to the Greek island of Calicos where she is to wed her fiancé Sky.  The cast of characters is completed by Sophie’s and Donna’s set of quirky and endearingly invigorating friends.  The cast of the international touring musical production did not fail to engage their Filipino audience when they belted out one ABBA hit after another including the soulful naivete with which Charlotte Wakefield who played Sophie opened the musical with “I Have a Dream.”  Other hits that were popularized by ABBA’s Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus in the 70’s were featured in the musical such as “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Waterloo,” and “The Winner Takes It All.”

Local celebrities as well as international Filipino singing sensations Lea Salonga and Arnel Pineda graced the Manila premier of the Mamma Mia production.  Salonga had raves for the production, admitting that she found herself singing along with the tunes and having to resist the urge to get up and dance along with the cast.  Aside from Wakefield, thespians Sara Poyzer (Donna), Rosie Heath (Ali), and Tasha Taylor Thompson (Lisa) lead the company in the Manila production of Mamma Mia.  Other international locations where the company has staged Mamma Mia include United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, Turkey, and the Philippines’ asian neighbours China and Taipei.

Mamma Mia’s Manila production opened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo last January 24 and will run until February 19.  Ticket prices start at P750 and runs up to P7,000.  For ticket inquiries and online booking, theater lovers can visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999.

Photo:  oliverpublicist.blogspot.com