MAMMA MIA! by Carol Kaufman Segal

           

East West Players is featuring Mama Mia! at the David Henry Hwang Theatre.  The musical features an array of Abba hits (music and lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, and the book by Catherine Johnson). A fabulous cast, under the auspicious direction of Snehal Desai, performs a spectacular rendition of this charming play.

            

20-year old Sophia Sheridan (Grace Yoo) and her mother Donna (Joan Almedilla) reside in a rural resort hotel, the Villa Donna, on a peaceful Greek Island, owned and run by Donna.  There will be many guests arriving at the hotel soon for the coming marriage of Sophia to her fiancé, Sky (Max Torrez).  Sophia longs to have her father walk her down the aisle, but her mother never told her who that person is.  Having found her mother’s diary, and secretly reading it to try to find the answer, she learns of three different men who were involved with her mother at about the same time.   Anyone of them could be her father.  Therefore, unbeknownst to Donna, she invites all three of them to the wedding.  

            

When Sam Carmichael (Alan Ariano), Harry Bright (Danny Bernardo), and Bill Austin (Michael Palma) show up at the hotel, Donna is beside herself, not knowing what she will do with these men suddenly appearing from her past.  She seeks help from her best friends, former singing partners, Rosie Mulligan (Elvira Barjau) and Tanya Chesham-Leigh (Anthea Neri).  Sophie too, is in a quandary, not knowing how to figure out which of the three men is her father    and seeks the help of her two bridesmaids, Ali (Nicole Santiago) and Lisa (Jules Aurora). 

           

If all of this isn’t enough to create havoc, Sam, Harry, and Bill, never having known one another, each comes to the conclusion that he was invited to the wedding because he is the father of the bride-to-be.  Problems? You bet!  Sky is upset enough to want to call off the wedding!  But all must end well in this charming musical with its wonderful music and a superb cast of singers, dancers, and actors.  They also include Al Rafael (Pepper), Kevin Trinio Perdido, (Eddie) and Ala Tiatia (Father Alexandrios).  And it wouldn’t be the same without the Ensemble that includes Edelyn Okano, Dekontee Tucrkile, Steven Agdeppa,  and Andrew Ge.

            

The live band, conducted by Marc Macalintal, (keyboard), includes Vince Reyes (guitars), Chris Spilsbury (guitars), Khris Kempis (bass guitar), and Craig Bunch (percussion).  The excellent choreography is by Preston Mui.

           

Mama Mia! plays Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, at the David Henry Hwang Theatre, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, through June 9.  Tickets are available online at wwweastwestplayers.org, or by phone at (213) 625-7000.

           

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