Here we go again, another ABBA revelry
he cares for most — not his wife Edith (Erla Faye Forsyth), but Lewis. From that point, his relationship with the almost-saintly Lewis deteriorates as Tolkien becomes increasingly abrasive, whiny and unlikeable.
Rather than focusing on the literary works of Tolkien and Lewis, which is why most of us would care about these characters, Reed has them obsess about often doctrinally obscure points of theology and religious disagreements. Even while the Second World War rages, the characters argue over Christian minutiae as if they were replaying the Reformation. By the end, Tolkien is accusing his best friend, the Anglican Lewis, of anti-Catholic bigotry.
These religious debates may be part of the historical archive, but they lack dramatic momentum. The stakes never get raised. No one here is going to lose their head or even a publishing contract over their choice of Christian doctrine. Instead of debating the equivalent of how many hobbits can dance on the head of a pin, the play could use a real antagonist, a Mordor
1 Timing
In a tweet datelined April 27 from Stockholm, ABBA announced that the four members had gone into the studio to record two new songs. It’s the first new material from the Swedish pop band since 1983. A digital version of the quartet, dubbed “Abbatars,” will perform one of the tracks, I Still Have Faith in You, on a TV special later this year. So the timing could not be better for a re-mount of the ABBA jukebox musical.
2 It’s ABBA
You either love ’em or hate ’em. But those on the right side of history never miss a chance to see/hear classics like Voulez-Vous, Dancing Queen and The Winner Takes it All performed live with a talented cast and an enthusiastic audience.
3 Cast
The cast includes Michelle Bardach as Sophie, the daughter whose impending nuptials (and consequent wedding invitations) throw a small Greek island into chaos, and Stephanie Roth as her mother Donna. Bardach recently starred in a remount of Corey Payette’s Children of God. Roth is the recipient of a Tyrone Guthrie Award from the Stratford Festival. Meanwhile, director Valerie Easton’s credits include last year’s acclaimed (Postmedia’s Jerry Wasserman called it “delightful”) RCMT production of the 1934 musical Anything Goes.
4 Sing-along performances
Mamma Mia! will be the first Arts Club production to feature singalong performances (test your vocal range at the 2 and 8 p.m. shows on July 28).
5 A 15-week run
It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of ABBA and Mamma Mia! that the show is not only closing out the Arts Club’s 2017-18 season, but will become the longest-running production in the history of the Stanley.