March 27, 2023 by Francisca Schmalz (‘24)
March 27, 2023 photos by Sorell McIntire (‘25)
Mamma Mia!, the musical inspired by Abba’s phenomenal and enduring hits, came to Saratoga Springs High School from March 16 through 18. Originating in London’s West End in 1999, then going onto Broadway in 2001, and eventually being adapted into a movie 2008, the show is a fan-favorite and loved across the globe. The performance was put on by the drama club and their months of hard work were evident. The musical transported the audience to the fictional island Kalokairi and allowed the crowd to fall in love with familiar characters once more.
Every one of the cast members shined in their parts. Ainsley Martell was a show-stopping powerhouse. Every moment she was on stage, it was easy to get entranced with her performance. Her big numbers were breathtaking, taking you right into the room with Donna and feeling her pain as she sang “The Winner Takes It All” to Sam Carmichael (Peter Brueggemann). Just as brilliant was Abby DeGregory as Donna’s bride-to-be daughter during “Voulez-Vous.” As her character was running around the party, being dragged into conversations by each potential father figure and falling further into confusion, the audience felt they were falling as well, feeling just as distressed and confused as Sophie. DeGregory did an amazing job capturing Sophie’s attitude throughout the performance, but it was that scene that particularly stood out.
However, Sophie’s confusion couldn’t have been portrayed as effectively without the work of her three potential father figures. Sam Carmichael (Brueggemann), Harry Bright (Max Mittler), and Bill Austen (Matthew Jones), were a killer trio during “Voulez-Vous.” Their characters were just trying to make Sophie feel better and do the right thing, but it clearly wasn’t working for Sophie. They each had their own individual moments during the show that stood out, such as Jones’ number “The Name of the Game”–which pretty much confirmed who Sophie’s true father was. “S.O.S” between Brueggeman and Martell was amazing; perfectly portraying the confrontation of feelings between Donna and Sam that the show had been teasing since they first reunited. During “Our Last Summer,” Max Mittler conveyed the sound and feeling of nostalgia flawlessly.
Yet another amazing performance was given by John Vilca, who played Sky–Sophie’s husband-to-be–and his two friends Pepper and Eddie, played by Eli Fiber and Levi Goodman. This trio was comical in every scene, and there was hardly a moment that they were on stage together where the viewers weren’t laughing. Vilca was astounding during “Lay All Your Love on Me” and played the role of the husband-to-be very well.
Finally, the duo that formed the other two-thirds of Donna and the Dynamos, Tanya played by Maddie Cook, and Rosie played by Julia Mittler, were outstanding. These two were showstopping together. They fed into each other’s energy and stole every scene they were in, whether they were in the front, or in the background. Often throughout the show, you could see them in the background, goofing around. Clearly, they enjoyed every moment on stage, never having a dull moment. They kept the tone light and had the audience engaged in every scene.
Overall, the show was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Everyone’s energy on stage was outstanding. The hard work of everyone on stage and behind the scenes was evident. The stage crew worked so hard to put the show together, playing with the lighting in a unique way that worked perfectly with the limited space of the stage. For more brilliant performances by the talented members of SSHS’ Drama Club, stay tuned for the club’s next production, Pride and Prejudice, coming this spring.