MAMMA MIA! at Venue Cymru in Llandudno will have you dancing out of your seat to the exuberant music on show.
It is no surprise that the mother of all modern musicals enjoyed a rapturous reception at Llandudno.
MAMMA MIA!, which has been seen by over 65 MILLION PEOPLE worldwide in 50 productions in 16 different languages thrilled visitors to Venue Cymru.
How could anyone resist this moving melodrama featuring hits from Swedish hitmakers Abba.
The show starts with Sophie Sheridan (Jena Pandya) wrestling with a familial dilemma in the run up to her wedding to her fiancée Sky played by the splendid Toby Miles.
The show opens with the ABBA hit ‘I have a dream’ sang beautifully by the wonderful Pandya whose longing to discover the identity of her father is evident to everyone.
Everyone except Sophie’s mum Donna, played by the delightful Sara Poyzer.
Her dramatic version of ‘Money, Money, Money’ offers the perfect introduction to this spirited survivor and Poyzer’s passionate performance.
The initial meeting of the three would-be fathers with their potential daughter is both humorous and awkward.
The candidates include Sam Carmichael played by the wonderful Richard Standing; Harry Bright who gives a sweet, subtle showing as Daniel Crowder, and wild man Bill Austin brought to life by the fabulously charismatic Phil Corbitt.
Donna’s frustrations at being confronted with her past are relieved by the arrival of her friends Rosie, whose militant and convivial spirit is captured perfectly by Nicky Swift.
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Multi-talented Helen Anker provides more vivacity as mischievous and marvellous Tanya.
A riotous bachelor party and raucous hen party provide an injection of youth and energy with a pumping version of ‘Lay all your love on me’, and a harmonious version of ‘Supertrooper’ by Donna and the Dynamos aka Swift, Anker and Poyzer.
The hen party perform an enthused version of ‘Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie’ while the three potential fathers are quizzed by Sophie.
Following the interval, the show’s pace picked up and the production provided some stand out moments.
These included a melancholic version of ‘One of us’ from Poyzer, and laugh out loud version of ‘Does your mother know’ featuring the sassy Anker and her toy boy pursuer Pepper (James Willoughby Moore).
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Pepper’s spicy antics and outrageous dance moves proved a huge hit with the audience as did Swift and Corbitt’s wonderfully high-spirited rendition of ‘Take a chance on me’.
Other highlights included an impassioned version of ‘Knowing me knowing you’ from Standing.
However, the emotional high point was reached during the moving ‘Slipping through my fingers’ with Pandya and Poyzer followed in quick succession by a heartbreakingly raw version of ‘The winner takes it all’ again featuring an outstanding Poyzer and Standing.
Simple sets, combined with fantastic 70s costumes, superb lighting, and exuberant music make for a glorious production guaranteed to have you dancing out of your seat come the show’s dance party finale.
Catch MAMMA MIA! At Venue Cymru until October 1.
For tickets visit www.venuecymru.co.uk or call the box office on 01492 872000.
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