MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review

Harpz2006
#1MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review
Posted: 3/1/09 at 11:04pm

I saw the MAMMA MIA matinee yesterday, and while I am not in love with the jukebox musical concept, it was delightful. Carolee Carmello as Donna has a huge, dynamic voice and brought the house down every time she sang. She was so vibrant and seemed to be giving it 110%. Brandi Burkhardt was amazing as Sophie- she is stunning and definitely looks 20 on stage. Her voice is beautiful an unusual- at times, her tone was so clear and vibrato-free that it sounded almost synthesized. She looked and sounded similar to Amanda Seyfried in the movie version. The three men, Sean Allan Krill (Sam), Ben Livingston (Harry), and Michael Pemberton (Bill) were hilarious and overflowing with charm. Krill stood out vocally and acting-wise, and Livingston was adorable and his "Our Last Summer" was nostalgically beautiful and caused my eyes to moisten a bit. Chris Peluso was a cute but slightly swish Sky, and Gina Ferrall and Judy McLane brought huge laughs as Tanya and Rosie- "Does Your Mother Know" and "Take a Chance on Me" were powerful numbers.

I didn't love the movie, and felt the same way about the show. I just don't feel like the songs fit the plot (obviously they don't really)- especially "The Name of the Game" didn't work for me, as it is clearly about lovers, not a daughter desperate to know who her dad is. Some of the numbers were just so adorable that I was able to become completely immersed in the joy onstage without thinking about the plot relevance("Thank You for the Music," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Honey, Honey"), but other times, I was a little bored for a moment. Overall, the talent (particularly that of the two leading ladies) seemed to outshine the show itself, but it was a fun, exciting performance that left me with a huge smile.

Updated On: 3/1/09 at 11:04 PM

Dollypop
#2re: MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review
Posted: 3/1/09 at 11:07pm

So we can deduce that you smile a lot when you're bored?


"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

Harpz2006
#2re: MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review
Posted: 3/1/09 at 11:09pm

Haha, I just said there were a few moments I wasn't totally into it... other than that, I enjoyed it a great deal.

bwaybabe2
#3re: MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review
Posted: 3/2/09 at 2:53am

Harpz2006, thank you for the review :) I am toying with the idea of seeing this when I travel in the area soon.
And:
"Brandi Burkhardt was amazing as Sophie- she is stunning and definitely looks 20 on stage. Her voice is beautiful an unusual- at times, her tone was so clear and vibrato-free that it sounded almost synthesized."
So glad to hear this! I really liked her in ATOTC, and thought she was extrememly well cast as Lucie Manette (she looks like I always pictured Lucie to be).
Hope I get to finally see Mamma Mia, and on Broadway! re: MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review

Harpz2006
#4re: MAMMA MIA- 2/28/09 review
Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:12am

You should- it's really cute- sometimes I just overthink shows and want them to be really moving/life-changing, but this show is pure fun. It was kinda Xanadu-ish (but more enjoyable, I think). Brandi def has one of the best voices I've ever heard- very impressive and powerful.