In 1999, the first version of "Mamma Mia!" premiered in London, a musical show filled with iconic songs by the Swedish pop group Abba. The success, as expected, was instantaneous, and since then the musical has been staged in several countries. Now, it arrives in Brazil.
The Brazilian production of "Mamma Mia!" is a production by Time For Fun - which has already created major musical franchises here, such as "Beauty and the Beast", "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats" -, and will be shown at Teatro Abril, in the center of São Paulo, the usual home for the company's assembly plants.
The story follows the original script – already adapted for the cinema, in the charming 2008 film starring Meryl Streep. Sophie is a post-teen who is getting married to the handsome Sky, on a Greek island where she was raised by her mother Donna. On the eve of the union, the girl invites three men to the wedding – one of them is her father, whom she has never met. The three are Donna's ex-boyfriends.
In the cast, the two big names in current Brazilian musical theater: Kiara Sasso, in the role of Donna, and Saulo Vasconcelos, as Sam – one of Sophie's possible parents, and the protagonist's main love interest. Kiara and Saulo starred in practically all major national musicals, establishing themselves as exceptional singers.
A great highlight of the Brazilian assembly is Andrezza Massei. Playing Rosie, one of Sophie's "aunts", the actress and singer steals the show with her irreverent and debauched performance, in a role tailor-made for her.
Actor Cleto Baccic, who in the production of "Cats" had already shone playing the cat Rum Tum Tugger with Mick Jagger's mannerisms, this time plays Harry, another of Sophie's possible fathers. Harry is a former hippie who in the end reveals himself to be gay – a character defended in the cinema by Colin Firth.
In the role of Sky, Thiago Machado once again shows his talent – coming from an excellent performance in the musical "Meu Amigo Charlie Brown", where he played the needy Linus.
But what would a musical be without two things? The supporting cast and the music, of course. The montage of "Mamma Mia!" It also has these two factors in its favor. The supporting cast shows vibrancy and excites the audience, rocking collective numbers like the resounding "Money Money Money" and "Does Your Mother Know". It's hard not to get up from your seat and dance on stage at moments like these.
As for music, anyone who has Abba's repertoire is well served. Classified as "tacky" and "kitsch" in the 70s, Abba was rediscovered in the 90s, in the Australian films "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and "Muriel's Wedding" (both 1993), and entered the pantheon of pop classics.
Today the band's hits are practically symphonic pieces, known all over the world. The musical richness of the arrangements and Abba's peculiar sound create the perfect musicality for a show like "Mamma Mia!". It’s impossible not to vibrate and – believe me – get emotional.
Service:
Mamma Mia!
Directed by Floriano Nogueira
Teatro Abril – Av. Brigadeiro Luiz Antonio, 411 – SP
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – 21pm / Saturdays – 17pm and 21pm / Sundays – 16pm and 20pm
Tickets from R$80 to R$250
Premieres on November 11th
www.musicalmammamia.com.br
