Mamma Mia, how can we resist you?

I have a dream, a song to sing...” As if casting a spell on the audience, the show begins and ends with these immortal lyrics, a girl humming a lullaby against the backdrop of a giant moon. To say that this show will leave you spellbound is an understatement. Get ready for some serious LSS (Last Song Syndrome) moments, ladies and gents.

Sara Poyzer, who plays the lead Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia put it simply, “It’s a musical play about women ­­­— very strong women.” I was able to spend an entire afternoon with the cast before their final show in Manchester a few months back. The British cast of the global smash hit will be coming to Manila for a limited run of the show at the CCP Main Theater starting Jan. 24, 2012.

Seventy people are flying in to the Philippines with a jumbo jet bringing in the entire setup. The Mamma Mia caboodle will be flying in from Zurich, Switzerland where the show is currently playing, alongside London, New York among other theater capitals in the world. “You’ll have a great time in Manila,” I assure the cast members as they will be coming from the chills of a European winter onto the warmth of a Filipino New Year’s.

“The women were the loudest in the audience. Little kids are strangely attracted to the show, too. We would see five- to six-year-olds dancing to Dancing Queen,” said the cast members.

Mamma Mia has been enthralling audiences all over the world since its 1999 debut in London. I was in the UK when the show opened and it was impossible to get tickets — the show had a six-month wait list! That’s how much of a hit it was. Eventually, I was able to see it, and each time I catch the show, the energy is fresher, the cast more electric, and the story and soundtrack are more relevant than when I last saw it. The tale set in a Greek island paradise has been seen by more than 50 million people worldwide. Manila will soon be able to experience this feel-good spectacle.

A show with a strong heartbeat

Tagged as “The World’s No. 1 Musical,” it is easy to dismiss Mamma Mia as just a parade of ABBA’s greatest hits, but it is more than that. It is a story of women, their men, their children, their community and their families. I have seen the musical three times and each time the show feels better. The message of the show, of friends, family and what the future holds for each character, continue to resonate.

Sara Poyzer plays the lead Donna Sheridan, while Olivier award nominee Charlotte Wakefield plays Donna’s daughter, Sophie.

Yes, you may have already seen the movie, but seeing it live onstage is an entirely different story. “If you give them a bit more complex interpretation of the character as opposed to just giving them what is obvious, the pay-off at the end is much more fulfilling,” says Sara, whose husband Richard Standing plays her leading man Sam Carmichael in the show. In the movie version, that man is played by Pierce Brosnan.

Speaking to the members of the cast in Manchester gave me a more in-depth understanding of the characters and the show itself, not that I needed to fall in love with the show any deeper. “We all fall in love, we all fall out of love. Friendship, love — things that are universal are the things that connect with audiences,” says Richard of his love affair with Mamma Mia.

We also got to chat with Jenny Dale who scene- steals as Rosie in the show, and Kate Braham whose strong-willed Tanya complete the femme fatale triumvirate. “There is a strong heartbeat to this show,” said Jenny. “It is a beautifully written play with songs,” quipped Kate.

Take a chance on me: Tim Yap in between Sarah Poyzer and Sam Carmichael

Olivier award nominee Charlotte Wakefield plays Donna’s daughter Sophie Sheridan, who, on the eve of her wedding, brings back the three men from her mother’s past who could possibly be her father. David Roberts plays Sky, Sophie’s fiancé. During our brief conversation, I found out that David used to play football with our very own Phil and James Younghusband. He’s looking forward to touching base with his Fil-Brit childhood buddies when he gets here to Manila next month.

From Manchester to Manila

“We’ve got almost every demographic. It’s across the board now. The movie has opened up the way people view the material,” said Sara when people try to compare the movie to the stage version of the musical. “We’re trying to give people a similar experience, since the film already set the pace.” 

An experience was what we definitely got that night, leveled up by the high-octave energy delivered by the Manchester cast of Mamma Mia. “The women were the loudest in the audience. Little kids are strangely attracted to the show, too. We would see five- to six-year-olds dancing to Dancing Queen,” said the cast members. The audience would get up during several parts of the show, singing and dancing along with the actors. So Pinoy audiences, we encourage you to stand up, dance and join the fun!

Mamma Mia has been enthralling audiences all over the world since its 1999 debut in London.

“The Manchester touring company is even fresher than the London show. Touring companies are ­ that’s really important. The shows we bring to Asia are even better than the one who sits on a few years’ contract,” said James Cundall of the Lunchbox Theatrical Company, the main man behind the hit shows hitting Manila.

“What we’re trying to do is to take people on a journey of shows. We are very thankful to the CCP for having our shows, for without the venue we couldn’t go there.” Corporate sponsors like Citibank and Infinity powered by Smart make it all possible as well.

So what are we waiting for? Start singing! “Mamma Mia, here I go again...”

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Follow me on twitter.com/officialTIMYAP for #YAP4GRABS updates on free tickets for shows, concerts and events. For Mamma Mia tickets, call (632) 891 9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.