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Sophie (Annika Tupper) is getting married, and she wants her dad to be there. There’s one small problem: her mother, Donna (Jessica Sherman), has never told her who her father is.

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So Sophie does what any reasonable bride-to-be would do — she reads her mother’s diary, finds the names of three flings from the summer of ’79, and invites them all. Disco-flavoured chaos ensues as Sam (David Leyshon), Bill (Jeremy Legat) and Harry (Rob Torr) appear at Donna’s doorstep the night before the wedding.

Directed and choreographed by Stephanie Graham, Thousand Island Playhouse’s production of “Mamma Mia!” is a perfect summer treat. With a book by Catherine Johnson and a soundtrack of wall-to-wall ABBA hits, the show has earned its place as a feel-good fan favourite since its premiere in 1999. Nostalgia is the main ingredient, but with a healthy helping of humour and a good dash of feminism, “Mamma Mia!” feels more substantial than the average jukebox musical.

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Sherman and Tupper have strong mother-daughter chemistry as they work through the tension between Donna’s free-wheeling, independent spirit and Sophie’s desire for a big, white wedding. Donna’s friends, Rosie (Laura Caswell) and Tanya (Louise Cammilleri), bring tremendous fun to the taverna, and both Caswell and Cammilleri stand out as dynamic comedic performers. The posse of potential fathers is likewise delightful, and each could-be dad is winning in his own awkward, endearing way.

Speaking of winning, the singing is impressive across the board — at the preview I attended, Sherman’s rendition of “The Winner Takes It All” was especially powerful.

Amber Hood’s lighting design is lovely, moving from sunny Greek island scenes (set design by Brandon Kleinman) to a rich inner world of characters’ emotions, where bold colours provide a fantasy backdrop for belting out ABBA hits.

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The band (music direction by Nick Burgess) is tight, though the rhythm section is a little underwhelming in the groove department. (This is a general gripe I have with pop-to-musical adaptations. Theatre musicians: please be funkier!)

Having only seen the 2008 film adaptation before attending this production, I noticed that the stage musical features stronger character development than its movie counterpart. Notably, it seems more willing to give legitimacy to each of Donna’s past relationships — the movie, from what I recall, pushes her quite quickly toward Sam, without really exploring what Bill and Harry meant to her. I enjoyed hearing Donna and Harry’s duet rendition of “Our Last Summer” — it shows a more multifaceted Donna, and it’s grounded in the sweet, reminiscent affection that makes “Mamma Mia!” so appealing.

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Seeing “Mamma Mia!” at Thousand Islands Playhouse is a good reminder that there’s no replacing the magic of live theatre. For all the sweeping scenery the film has to offer, there’s nothing quite like hearing the acoustic clack of flippers on the stage in “Lay All Your Love On Me,” or watching the frenetic miscommunications at Sophie’s bachelorette party unfold in real time.

With its large, talented cast and contagious energy, “Mamma Mia!” takes audiences on a delightfully lively trip from the Thousand Islands to the Greek islands.

Haley Sarfeld is a writer, composer-lyricist and theatre critic whose recent work appears in Intermission Magazine, The Skeleton Press and at kingstontheatre.ca.

Essentials

Mamma Mia!

A Thousand Islands Playhouse presentation of the 1999 musical with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, book by Catherine Johnson, originally conceived by Judy Craymer, directed by Stephanie Graham and playing at the Thousand Islands Playhouse through August 10. Tickets at the Thousand Islands Playhouse box office, at www.1000islandsplayhouse.com or 613-382-7020.

Cast

Donna: Jessica Sherman

Sophie: Annika Tupper

Rosie: Laura Caswell

Tanya: Louise Camilleri

Sam: David Leyshon

Harry: Rob Torr

Bill: Jeremy Legat

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