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It can be a tricky thing, picking a Theatre Company show. I confess at first, Mamma Mia was a choice of convenience. Lots of ensemble numbers and female leads, a fairly simple set build (or so we thought), and popular with the young crowd.

As for plot and complexity, it seemed a few degrees deeper than Ice Capades. However, two months in, I’m having a blast, and am grateful spending time with a show that’s both fun and energizing.

Like that friend who you call to cheer you up, who knows the right thing to say, and leaves your heart with a grin. Some things don’t need complexity to move you. Like a sunset, or salted caramel in a waffle cone. I’ve had the songs stuck in my head for two months, and I’m very okay with it.

Of course, it also helps to work on a show with a fun cast and crew, and to this end, I couldn’t ask for better. It’s great when you’re at the tail end of a five hour rehearsal, and it’s the actors who are asking to stay later. Or when the tech crew play gods, and create a world out of cardboard and plywood. Or when Nick Booker nails and drills so many solutions to design problems. Or when Sarah Higginson teaches each song number in half the time of previous musicals. Or when Dawn Ewen inspires as much as she choreographs. Or when Darren Hales does…well, you’ll soon see.

I hope you enjoy Lord Byng’s production of Mamma Mia. You’re seeing the tip of an iceberg that rises above three months of joy, sweat, laughter and hard, hard work.

The plot might not run deep, but our experiences have, and we thank you for being here and participating in the final stage of our journey.

SYNOPSIS

ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! a guaranteed smash hit.

A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads.

And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget!