Mamma Mia! deserves the exclamation point
Mamma Mia! Kelowna Actors Studio put the exclamation point on this 1999 jukebox musical and romantic comedy on opening night, Thursday at Kelowna Community Theatre.
The stage was set at the onset when artistic managing director Randy Leslie noted Mamma Mia! wraps up the 15th anniversary season and when he counted, discovered it was the organization’s 100th production.
The stage show — with its huge and incredibly talented cast — was worthy of a centennial celebration.
But Leslie had more, much more, to make this an evening to remember. First, he awarded two scholarships to students pursuing the arts at post-secondary institutions. Julia Chambers, who was awarded the Scott Lawler Memorial Scholarship, is headed to NYU (New York University). Tiernan Lafleur-Johnson, who received a bursary through Boston Pizza, is headed to the Guildford School of Acting in the UK.
Then, Leslie announced KAS is moving its administration, costume, props and set department as well as the Academy and Kelowna Tickets into a new space —including a 100-seat theatre — on Enterprise Way.
And KAS would be back at Kelowna Community Theatre in September for a reunion show which will see fan favourites back on stage together in a Broadway revue of song and dance. Proceeds to benefit the Kelowna Actors Studio Academy Foundation.
A huge cheer went up from the sold-out theatre when the two students came on stage and with word of the major location change from the current Ellis Street headquarters.
“Opah!” Leslie shouted, reflecting the Greek setting for the musical. “Are you ready to party? Are you ready to dance in the aisle?” The audience shouted back “Opah” in unison and the two-hour-plus musical based on the songs of pop group ABBA was on.
Boy, was it on. This was a chick flick on steroids. And the 850 fans, mostly female, ate it up.
A medley of ABBA melodies preceded the dimming of house lights, the darkening theatre cheered by all.
Daughter Sophie (Sidney Cummings) further teases with the solo I Have A Dream. She and her two girlfriends further entice with Honey, Honey but then, the real show begins with mother Donna (Anna Jacyszyn) and the well-rehearsed company launching into pop favourite Money, Money.
The audience responded with thunderous applause. And it only got louder and more enthusiastic with the series of outstanding vocals, especially the lead song Mamma Mia, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! and Voulez-Vous.
The piece de resistance, the highlight of the entire musical, though, was Donna and the Dynamos in their awesome rendition of Dancing Queen and Super Trouper during the first act.
As soon as the house lights came back on, the buzz was incredible. Everyone wanted to share their excitement about the performance.
The second act couldn’t come quickly enough since the first half seemed to be over in a few moments. Performance built on performance with so many highlights that it made you wonder if audience members were tiring from all the clapping in unison and cheering.
The continuing highlight was, without doubt, the vocals of Jacyszyn, an award-winning jazz vocalist, with Dynamos Tanya (Laura Lebbon) and Rosie (Delphine Litke) not only adding depth but have their own moments in the spotlight.
The moveable wings of the stage walls were noteworthy, and so were the elaborate costumes for Donna and the Dynamos.
And keep an eye out for the dance moves from Ballet Kelowna’s Kurt Werner as Pepper.
It was clear from the onset that this was going to be a night to remember, thanks to Kelowna’s outstanding version of Broadway.
In hindsight, Mamma Mia! the KAS Musical was superior to Mamma Mia! The Movie which grossed $615 million worldwide on a $52-million budget to become the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008.
Live theatre is like that. You can’t take that home in a DVD case but the fond memories are long-lasting.
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. shows through Aug. 11 are available from Kelowna Tickets in Orchard Park mall, 250-862-2867 and online at: KelownaActorsStudio.com.