REVIEW: Mamma Mia@ The Palace Theatre, Manchester

image003You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life (and you probably will) at this fun-packed production bringing together greatest hits of the iconic pop sensation, Abba.

With more cheese than my pre-theatre quattro formaggio pizza, Mamma Mia is feel good festival of fun with those classic songs woven into an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island  paradise.

It tells the story of Sophie (Lucy May Barker), preparing for her wedding and trying to to discover the father she has never known and bringing mum Donna (Sara Poyzer) face to face with three men from a distant romantic past she would rather forget.

Sara Poyzer delivers a polished performance as the resilient single mum who is also reunited with her two band mates Tanya and Rosie who provide many of the hilarious moments courtesy of excellent portrayals by Emma Clifford and Jacqueline Braun.

And the three dads also know the name of the game when it comes to comic timing.

There are some real moments of poignancy in the show with some quite touching scenes, which temper the audience participation a little, but by far the winners which take it all in this production are those classic numbers from those Swedish song-smiths, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.

And by the time we get to the colourful finale, the crowd are dancing, clapping and holding nothing back. This has reawakened by inner Abba fan.

Dave Toomer
Runs till Saturday June 4

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