The Willoughby Theatre Company (WTC), which began 65 years ago, has established itself as one of the finest community music theatre companies in Sydney. The shows it produces are always of a high quality. WTC has been around for 65 years. The Company opened the state of the art Concourse Theatre in Chatswood over a decade ago with a wonderful production of THE BOY FROM OZ. Now the Company has turned their hands to the blockbuster 1999 musical MAMMA MIA with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Catherine Johnson.
I always enjoy doing a bit of research before writing a review. One never knows what one might stumble on. I discovered that Johnson’s clever storyline, though the writer of-course denies it, may well have been inspired by a 1968 film BUONA SARA, MRS CAMPBELL which was adapted for the stage in 1979 under the title CARMELINA. The play had a similar premise. The main character is a woman who does not know which of the three men she was involved with was the father of her daughter. Interesting…
The set-up to MAMMA MIA comes from a different angle, the daughter’s viewpoint. Sophie Sheridan is a young woman who has been brought up by her mother Donna Sheridan. Her mother has never told her who her father is. One day she comes across her mum’s diaries. She reads that in her youth her mum was a bit of a ‘wild thing’ and that at around the time her mum would have got pregnant she had involvements with three different men.
Sophie uses the occasion of her upcoming marriage to send off wedding invitations to all three men under the guise that the invitations have come from her mother. Through this slippery route she is hoping that she will be able to work out who her Dad is. Even the Bard, in his romantic comedy vein, might have been proud of this set-up
Much to Sophie’s surprise, her mother’s three former beaus arrive on the Greek island of Kalokairi where they live, her mum having raised her there and being prominent in the local community as the owner of the local taverna, to take their place at the wedding. The action really kicks off when Donna encounters the three men. How is this possible, for the wild past to come at her full throttle?! She invites her best friends Tanya and Rosie into her bedroom and tells them the situation. She falls back on her bed and buries her face in her pillow. And then she of-course, as you do in musicals, breaks into song, none other than the title song. Well yes, mamma mia, exactly!
In his program note Director Declan Moore mentions that he was privileged to see the debut production of MAMMA MIA on the West End back in 1999. It has obviously held him in good stead as he has come up with a first-rate production, supported by a great creative team.
Amy Curtin’s choreography was excellent with particular reference to how she handled the different dance styles and managed the large cast on stage.
The orchestra was terrific, led by Matthew Herne and featuring nine musos. There were also seven Pit singers.
Josh McIntosh’s set design is fluid and adaptable with many designs sliding or being wheeled in and off the stage.
Sean Clarke’s lighting design and Rachel Adams bright, bold and colourful costumes were of a high quality.
Moore wins good performances from a large cast.
Stephanie Edmonds played the bride to be Stephanie Edmonds. She had a good handle on her character; a sunny, good natured young woman, on the verge of getting married and finding out who her father is. Exciting times!
Karen Oliver gives a well nuanced performance as Sophie’s mum Donna. Oliver showcased a powerful voice and gave a rousing rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’. She showed a good range, one minute her character was down in the dumps, the next moment she was high octane energy.
Blake Lovely plays Sky, Sophie’s easy going, perhaps too laid back fiance, who likes to live simply, without any complications.
Janina Hamerlock plays Donna’s flirty and brazen friend Tanya, the kind of woman who likes to make an impact whenever she enters a room! A highlight is her provocative, raunchy rendition of ‘Does Your Mother Know’.
Tisha Kelemen plays Donna’s other best friend, Rosie Mulligan, who loves a good time. A highlight was her scene with Bill where she makes a rampant, uninhibited vying for Bill’s affections with ‘Take A Chance On Me’.
The trio of possible Dads give stellar performances.
Geoff Stone plays charismatic Sam, an architect who did the design for Donna’s taverna, before he broke up with her. Stone showcased a strong voice and delivered great renditions of ‘Knowing Me and Knowing You’ and ‘SOS’.
Clive Hobson plays the gentle natured, very helpful British banker, Sam Carmichael.
Scott Kimpton is the very independent Australian adventurer and writer, Bill Austin who enjoys being part of the festivities.
Taryn-Lea Bright as Ali, Jess Funda as Lisa, Max Kendrick as Pepper, Jeremy Zalewski as Eddie, Steph Georgeson as Elina, and Phil Lucas as Father Alexandrios complete the principal cast. The cast also features a large village ensemble and a featured dance ensemble.
The whole cast came on stage to do an encore which featured reprises of Abba’s mega hits ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Waterloo’. A lot of people got up and danced. The middle-aged woman sitting next to me got up along with her two grown up daughters and they were bopping along.
MAMMA MIA is one of my favourite musicals, and I have seen a few in my time! If you haven’t seen the live musical version it really is worth seeing. It is simply irresistible.
Willoughby Theatre Company’s production of MAMMA MIA is playing the Concourse Theatre, Chatswood till Saturday 23 October, 2022.
Production photography – Grant Leslie Photography
