Since its world premiere in 1999, Mamma Mia! has been a continuous fixture of the theatrical landscape, drawing crowds with its timeless 70s soundtrack. Co-directors Morgan Kaplan and Andrew Maynerich are on their second go-round of this iconic, disco fever show after having directed it previously at Sacred-Heart Griffin High School.
“We wanted to take it to the next level, and we have some very large surprises for the audience,” Maynerich said.
Surprises indeed – their take on this pop-culture phenomenon is glittering, cheeky and perfectly camp. The set is stunning, truly one of the most beautiful to don the Muni stage, created by first-time set designer and assistant director Stacy Kolaz. Damien Kaplan’s masterful vocal and music direction is apparent in the chorus’ tight harmonies, and Cindy Wall’s costumes are brilliantly over-the-top impeccable.
It’s a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should the audience. From a troupe of hilarious dancing scuba men to rhinestone leisure suits, this production boogie-belts summertime fun.
Mary Kate Smith shines as Donna, a fiercely independent single mom whose world is turned upside down on the eve of her young daughter Sophie’s wedding to Sky. Matt Woodson’s Sky is the epitome of a 20-something aloof man-child, and Sophie (played and sung beautifully by Meredith Crifasi) spends the week leading up to her wedding like all brides do – reading her mother’s decades-old sex diaries. Discovering her father could be one of three different men, Sophie secretly invites them to the Greek island to suss out the truth. Donna must have been a dynamo back in her day, as all three men promptly hop a plane to an unknown wedding just for a chance to see her again – get it, girl.
Donna isn’t exactly thrilled to see past flings Harry and Bill (delightfully portrayed by Jerry Hicks and Jimmy Tapocik, respectively). Harry appears significantly more mature than the rest of the lineup and shows up with a fat check, leaving us to wonder if Donna briefly dabbled as a gold-digger. The arrival of Sam, the hunky architect, is a different story. Gavin Gardner plays Sam with an almost too-convincing smarmy charm, and upon his entrance, Donna wraps her leg around him like a stripper pole, grabs his shirt so hard his button pops, then spends the rest of the show yelling at him. Ah, true love. Fortunately, Donna has a support system in her similarly unhinged besties, Rosie and Tanya, sweetly brought to life by Alicia Huntley and Amanda Otto.
“The show is full of nostalgia, and you don’t have to think super hard,” Kaplan said. It is always suggested one doesn’t think too hard when patroning a jukebox musical. The plots are full of holes and questionable relationships, but Mamma Mia! manages a heartfelt mother-daughter story nestled inside its Spotify shuffle of Abba songs – one that plays out emotionally onstage and off.
Smith’s daughter, Stella Smith, who performs in the show’s pit chorus, played Donna in the most recent Porta High School production clad in the same costume as her mother on the Muni stage.
“I’m very proud of my mom; it’s nice to have her follow me in a role, and I love watching her – she fills the whole environment with her beautiful voice,” Stella said. Gardner’s son also performs in the show’s chorus, and Mary Kate attributes multiple families coming together in this production to the Kaplan/ Maynerich directorial team.
“From day one, the process has been safe, kind and inclusive. Our kids are in these shows; that’s what’s most important to me,” Smith said.
While Mamma Mia! boasts powerful performances, it still creates the joyful illusion that one could leap onstage, start singing and fit right in. The show’s catchy energy and quirky choreography are enough to make even the most cynical theatergoer smile.
That infectious zeal extends all the way through the company. The ensemble gives its all, anchored by standouts Luke Busboom and Sierra Dove.
“This is a show where you can sing along, have fun and get up and dance in the aisles,” Busboom said. Positioned front-and-center, this duo maximizes every dance number doing the absolute most, and they appear to have such a blast doing it, audiences will find it difficult not to join in.
Mamma Mia! at Muni delivers a bright, feel-good evening of theater with hummable tunes.
Mamma Mia! continues its run at the Springfield Muni May 29-31 and June 3-6. Performances start at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are available at TheMuni.org or at The Muni box-office beginning 90 minutes before each performance.
