If you’re looking for a fun evening in Las Vegas, and one that doesn’t involved cards, dice, and a smoke filled casino, most people look for a show to go see. That’s what I did during my time in Las Vegas attending the Luxury Travel Expo.
Since I was staying at the Mandalay Bay Resort (where the expo was held), the logical and easy choice was to see Mamma Mia, a theatrical production featuring music by ABBA.
While more of a rocker chick that a disco girl, I nonetheless found this musical immensely engaging and entertaining. And yes, I found myself humming some of the tunes for the rest of the night.
The plot is a convoluted one, designed for erroneous assumptions and misunderstandings that set up wonderful opportunities for both humor and insight:
Single mom (Donna) raises her daughter on a Greek island, and despite a somewhat idyllic life, daughter (Sophie) focuses on finding out about her absentee and unknown father. Sophie reads her mother’s diary, written during a summer of sexual indiscretions, and finds that her father could be one of three men.
With her wedding approaching, Sophie sends an invitation to her wedding to all three men, certain that once she meets them she will know who her father is. When all three men show up in response to the invitation, silliness ensues.
I won’t reveal who the father really is, or how the wedding turns out, but along the way there’s spandex, platform boots, some great dance moves, and 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits, including Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes it All, Take a Chance on Me, and Knowing Me, Knowing You.
Since this was Vegas, I expected the staging and effects to be over the top, and that was largely the case. Although the staging is simplistic, the actors use the entire space – and even move out into the audience.
The costuming was great! And if you lived – and danced – during this era, you probably wore one of these outfits. Alright, you don’t have to admit it, but I KNOW that some of you still have a pair of those platforms at home in your attic!
The night I attended, the audience was only about half full, and I think that had an impact on the energy of the cast. Despite many tapping feet and bouncing heads in the seats, the synergy between cast and audience just didn’t take off.
Still, it was a great evening with great music – and I’m guessing that you, too, will walk away humming one of these classic 80’s tunes.
Mamma Mia closes on Sunday, January 4th, 2009, so you have just a few more weeks to see it. Show times are Sunday – Thursday, 7:30 pm; Saturday at 6 & 10 pm. (Dark Friday.) Tickets start at $45.
Image credit: Courtesy of MGM Mirage Images, photographed by Joan Marcus
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