Cappies Review: 'Mamma Mia!' At Falls Church High School

By Kylie Miller of Rock Ridge High School

Sunday afternoon and the lights are low — but only for a moment. Before you know it, you're having the time of your life, unable to stop dancing in your seat.

The music starts and the lights rise on the picturesque Greek setting constructed on the Falls Church High School stage. You feel the energy in the room intensify as the iconic songs we all know and love take over.

In Falls Church High School's production of "Mamma Mia!," we see the fun-loving tale of young Sophie, engaged to be married, taking on the challenge of finding herself before she officially ties the knot.

Raised by her single mother Donna, Sophie grows up never knowing who her true father is. So, after reading her mother's diary, she invites all three of her possible fathers to the island for the big day. The only catch is that her mother cannot find out, and Sophie has to figure out which one is really her father in time for him to walk her down the aisle and give her away.

The story follows their journey as this mother daughter duo takes on the challenges of life, love and laughter in the face of adversity.

The jukebox musical "Mamma Mia!," written by Catherine Johnson in 1999, features the music of the awe-inspiring band ABBA. Its catchy songs brought "Mamma Mia!" to be the longest-running jukebox musical in Broadway history, winning two Tony awards, and performing over 5,000 shows.

However, in 2008 the musical was adapted into perhaps an even more popular movie, instantly becoming a hit in theaters and loved by generations, eventually earning itself a sequel a decade later.

The directors of this production made a brave choice when casting freshmen as two of the leading characters — Sophie Sheridan and Sky Rymand. However, that decision had a huge pay-off in the authenticity of both Kate Schlageter-Prettyman's and Colt Armstrong's performance, as they portrayed two characters young and in love with their whole futures ahead of them.

Additionally, Mariela Palencia, playing the role of Donna, gave a show-stopping performance with vocals that were exceptional. Finally, in the role of Sam Carmichael, Jack Kearney brought the audience's emotions out with his genuine tone and phenomenal vocal range.

While the acting in this production was unforgettable, the technical design and production were just as impressive. As soon as the lights lowered and the overture began, Jenny Tran brought an electric picture to the stage with her rhythmically timed lighting design, engaging the audience in story before an actor even graced the stage. This worked brilliantly with the special effects design by Owen Wentzel. Their use of haze truly elevated the effect of the lighting on the stage.

Additionally, the costumes in this production by Liza Plis and Daria Kazemi provided the cast with a cohesive feel of the Greek island life we all wish we had. Whether it was Donna and the Dynamos '70s disco inspired outfits, or the flipper-wearing SCUBA ensemble, the costumes never missed a beat.

Falls Church High School's production of "Mamma Mia!" created an entire audience of Dancing Queens. This comedic and touching story showed the importance and impact of love in its many unique forms. Fall Church's experienced performance left the audience wanting more as they tried to capture every minute.