Review: Mamma Mia, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

Mamma Mia premiered in the West End in 1999, spawned two successful musical films and is currently touring the UK and Europe. Catherine Johnson‘s book centres around single mum, Donna, who runs a taverna on a Greek island. Her daughter, Sophie, is about to be married to her fiancé, Sky, but doesn’t know who her father is. She invites three contenders to her wedding without telling Donna. The result is a funny, high-energy, full-on romp of a musical bringing a Summer holiday party atmosphere to the theatre.

The show is a vehicle, of course, for the music of ABBA, with over twenty of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ hit songs coming thick and fast. Some of the lyrics have been tweaked a little to fit the plot, but it is surprising how well each song slots into place. They rarely feel like they have been forced into the narrative. Mamma Mia serves to remind those of us who were around in the seventies how brilliant ABBA’s songs are. They have not dated in any way; all of them are timeless classics that deserve to be heard by new audiences.

The show has very effective choreography throughout. I particularly enjoyed the simplicity of the clever synchronised movement from the hard-working ensemble during Money Money Money.

The set is simple but versatile. Sections of a whitewashed Greek house are repositioned by the cast to create different scenes. Combined with bright lighting and very colourful costumes, there is a clear Greek island party vibe, though it’s an odd choice for the setting when the show has an Italian title! 

The characters are slightly formulaic: Donna and her two loud and funny friends, Sophie and her two loud and funny friends, Sky and his two loud and funny friends and the three possible Dads. The Dads, Sophie and Donna are the most rounded characters; the others feel a little one-dimensional. But then this is a musical where the emphasis is on laughs and music, and they can all sing and dance excellently well.

Donna’s friends Rosie (Rachel Oates, covering the role) and Tanya (Sarah Earnshaw) provide much of the show’s humour. They were previously in a girl band with Donna and dress in typical ABBA-style costumes to sing Super Trouper at Sophie’s hen night. They have some humorous touches, but some of it feels a little overdone, and it doesn’t always land. Their feature numbers, though, where Earnshaw sings Does Your Mother Know? to Pepper (with impressive dancing from Ashton Sharp) and Oates sings Take a Chance on Me as she pursues Bill (a likeable Simon Victor), are effective set pieces.

Donna is played by Jenn Griffin, who has a powerhouse voice and brings an emotional force to the role. For me, the best parts of the show are where the songs are used to depict emotion and poignancy rather than humour. Arguably ABBA’s best song is The Winner Takes It All, which Griffin sings wonderfully in a climactic moment with Sam (Richard Taylor Woods). Woods also has a great singing voice, and his rendition of Knowing Me, Knowing You to describe his previous failed relationship is powerful and moving.

Hazel Baldwin plays Sophie nicely with a light touch, capturing the frustration she feels with her mother’s refusal to talk about who her father is. She manipulates the situation to bring about a final denouement and a happy ending for all the characters, just as a feel-good musical should. And above all else, this is a feel-good musical. Go expecting to have a great time, lots of laughs and some fabulous music, and Mamma Mia will never disappoint.

Produced by Judy Craymer
Music & Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Book by Catherine Johnson
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Choreographed by Anthony Van Laast
Production Design by Mark Thompson 
Lighting Design by Howard Harrison
Sound Design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken
Musical Supervision, Additional Material and Arrangements by Martin Koch International
Associate Director Paul Garrington
Associate Musical Director Carlton Edwards
Associate Director Stephen Paling

Mamma Mia plays at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until Saturday 26 September and is touring the UK and Europe until 31 October 2027.