As one of the most popular bands of all time, Abba – the Swedish pop group that shot to fame as winners of the 1974 Eurovision Song Content – has sold over 500 million records worldwide, and even inspired a Broadway musical.
That musical is now coming to Malta for the first time, and it opens at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on Friday, featuring West End actress Charlotte Gorton, as well as an all-singing, all-dancing local cast.
Mamma Mia is a jukebox musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and based on some of Abba’s best-loved songs, all of which were composed by ex-band members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
Aside from securing the accolade as the eighth-longest running musical in West End history, it has also been played in more than 50 countries in all six continents.
Set on a Greek island paradise on the eve of Sophie’s wedding, it is the hilarious yet poignant tale of this young girl’s quest to discover the identity of her father – a twist that brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.
But while the story is great-fun, it is the show’s songs that have really captivated audience members year after year. They include Abba’s Super Trouper, Lay All Your Love on Me, Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Take a Chance on Me, Thank You for the Music, Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes It All, SOS and the title track, Mamma Mia, all of which will be played live by musical director Kris Spiteri and his band.
Hilarious yet poignant tale of young girl’s quest to discover identity of her father
The rest of the show has been in the hands of director Chris Gatt, who was backed up by vocal coach Cathy Lawlor and choreographer Francesco Nicodeme.
Aside from Ms Gorton, the cast includes Isabel Warrington, Pia Zammit, Antony Edridge, Ray Calleja, Edward Mercieca, Maxine Aquilina, Thomas Camilleri, Jeremy Grech, Nicole Cassar and Tezara Eve Camilleri, as well as a fabulous ensemble.
It will be FM Theatre’s second large-scale musical of 2018, following hot on the heels of My Fair Lady, which was staged in February, as part of the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
Mamma Mia is staged at the Mediterranean Conference Centre Friday, Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening. Tickets are available on www.mcc.com.mt.
