What A Night . . . Mamma Mia never fails to entertain, and The Very Popular Theatre Company’s production was no exception. Set in the Greek islands, Donna is preparing for her daughter’s wedding with the help of her 2 best friends. Sophie, the bride to be, has secretly invited 3 men from her mother’s past in the hopes that she can meet her father. Chaos ensues as Sophie doesn’t know which of the men is her father, and each man believes they could be. This is a heartwarming tale of love, family and finding yourself.
Erin Cornell (Donna) played the fiercely independent mother of the bride with ease. Cornell’s raw and powerful vocals captivated the audience during the emotional arc of the second act ‘The Winner Takes It All’. Singing the first and last lines of the show, Emily Monsma (Sophie) radiates youthful energy and charm and it was impossible to keep our eyes off her for too long. Chloe Rose Taylor (Tanya) was a crowd favourite of the night. She was equal parts poised to perfection and feisty while giving off a real Gillian Anderson vibe. Jo-anne Jackson’s (Rosie) held the comedic timing for the trio, leaving the audience in stitches during ‘Take A Chance On Me’.
From their first scene together the ex-lovers, Sam, Harry and Bill are distinctively different personalities. They reminisce on their last visit with Donna and the island, and leave the audience wondering how long with will take each to realise they just might be Sophie’s Father. Matt Edwards (Sam) was a subdued yet strong leading male, and we genuinely felt his love for Donna the whole show. Timothy Aaron Cooper (Harry) played the character convincingly and sensibly. He did not feel a need to fall into the trap over overplaying as ‘camp’ to present his sexuality and this was refreshing to see in a portrayal of this character. Danny Folpp (Bill) isn’t just the adventure loving action man of the show. We get to see a shimmer of his insecurities that add so much depth to the character.
Lighting was, right from the first note of the overture, a noteworthy feature of the show. The set was stylish and very functional, the cast enthusiastically moved the set pieces, although scene changes could have been more efficient. The sound design was a rough mix in the first act with mic issues but was resolved for the second act. The pre-recorded backings or offstage booth overpowering the onstage performers in many numbers. Choreography was simple yet effective for the number of performers with the male part in ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’ being a comical highlight. Costumes were mainly casual beach wear to fit with the location. Donna and the Dynamo’s outfits were a gentle nod to the 70’s.
The ensemble was strong with quite a few local performers in the mix. Although unfortunately because the cast is so large we didn’t get the chance to see their individuality.
With 23 well known ABBA songs, and a mega mix to sing and dance along with, Mamma Mia is sure to be a well loved night for theatre goers of any age. Mamma Mia is running until September 20, 2026 at The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach.
To book tickets to Mamma Mia!, please visit https://mammamiagoldcoast.com.au/.
