Mamma Mia! on tour - still super trouper!

★★★★

For a while, it seemed that two witches could dethrone Mamma Mia! as the great musical movie of all time. But I challenge you not to fall in love with the Greek island, Donna and the Dynamos, and three potential dads, again and again.

A previous tour cast, photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

At this performance of the UK tour, it's Jenn Griffin wearing Donna's blue dungarees (her "The Winner Takes It All" is exceptional), with Sarah Earnshaw as the glamorous Tanya and Rosie Glossop as the bumbling Rosie. All three are fantastic, particularly when sharing the stage together, and their "Chiquitita" hilariously demonstrates timeless comedy that never goes out of style. The same can be said for the ensemble of Greek villagers making cameos in "Money Money Money". The band, led by Ashley Jacobs, blasts through the ABBA hits that are so intrinsically connected with this feel-good rom-com, and there is excitement in the audience as the opening chords of each begin, which extends right until the megamix encore.

Mamma Mia! is a certified crowd-pleaser, whatever the weather. Sophie, the young bride-to-be who aches to know who her father is, is played by a beautiful Lydia Hunt whose voice is like smooth golden sand under the blue hue lighting. Her groom, Sky, is played by Joe Grundy, who with his best man and best mate Pepper, leads a troupe of excellent dancers in energetic choreography - they work hysterically with Earnshaw for a cheeky "Does Your Mother Know". A special mention must be made to the potential fathers, Mark Goldthorp as Bill, Richard Meek as Harry, and Luke Jasztal as Sam. Sophie would be lucky to have genetics from any of them!

With so much light-heartedness and fun, it's easy to forgive the flimsy, simple sets of white walls and blue doors, and a lighting technician seems to have a shaky hand here in Leicester. But the show delivers consistently.

Mamma Mia! is just the tonic - I’ll take mine with Ouzo!

Reviewed by Andrew Cooper for Cheeky Little Matinee