What do you get when you combine women, alcohol and ABBA? What you get is an Abba-Fabbatastic party – The Mamma Mia Party! Of course, men were also in the mix but at about just one or two per cent of the audience, we were hardly worth counting, writes Michael Holland.
Heading off the main causeway in the O2 we were slowly transported from Greenwich to the Greek island of Skopelos. First, the odd exotic plant popped up, then posters promoting blue skies and white sandy beaches appeared, adverts for boat excursions and before we knew it we were in Nikos’ taverna where all the signs were in Greek.
A welcome drink was handed out to one and all, then a Greek salad was brought to the table, and all soundtracked by traditional Greek music played on a bouzouki. The party had begun. More drinks were ordered.
A subtle change in the lighting heralded a change in the atmosphere, which made us all look up from our feta cheese. In the spotlight were Nikos’ daughter Konstantina, and the English barman Adam, looking like two little lovebirds. Nikos is not happy and offers up some nice, single Greek boys for her. Love, however, makes its own plans.
Elsewhere in the taverna, Debbie, the chef has set fire to the kitchen while having a crafty fag; Nikos’ British wife Kate is trying to keep peace in the family and the business running smoothly. Besides arguments over their daughter, they also fight over the choice of music played. He wants traditional music, she wants ABBA. There was only ever going to be one winner…All these incidents were going on under the watchful eye of Grandma, the matriarch.
The storyline ensures a constant stream of ABBA hits that move the narrative along. Each time the audience picked up on a clue to what would be coming next a great cheer went up, so you can imagine the roar when a hunk of a repairman swaggered in to fix the ovens and was greeted as Fernando! ‘You can fix me, Fernando,’ was one of the less excitable comments shouted from my table…
Once he had done his job the main course was served (succulent beef and lamb) before the action continued and made its way to the expected happy ending. But even then we were treated to a medley of ABBA’s finest hits before the performers handed over the stage to the audience so they could dance away to their heart’s content as more ABBA hits were piped through.
Mamma Mia! The Party is a real feast of musical fun. The action goes on everywhere in this huge space: to the left, the right, in front and behind, and even – in a magical trapeze sequence – up above.
There is what seems like a cast of thousands, all singing and all dancing for this pan-generational crowd – The young and the old and all those in between singing along – word perfect – to every song. And everyone there was made to feel welcome at the taverna. Each person was either smooched by a waiter, winked at by one of the musicians, or serenaded by a singer. We were all made to feel like we were one big happy family.
A chink was discovered in my Indy armour when at the end I joyously cried aloud, ‘You can never have too much ABBA’.
And that just about sums up Mamma Mia! The Party. Four hours of theatre, live music, circus, great food and drink, and an Abba disco to finish! What’s not to like?
The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0DX until October 2nd. Times: Wed – Sun 6.30pm; Weekend matinees 12pm. Admission: From £99 – £225 pp.
Full details: https://mammamiatheparty.co.uk/tickets/