Cappies Review: 'Mamma Mia!' At Edison High School

By Dagny Scannell of Bishop Ireton High School

You can dance, you can jive, and you can definitely have the time of your life at Edison High School's production of Mamma Mia. This show's energy and excitement left the audience cheering and singing Dancing Queen on their way out of the auditorium. The performance showcased many talented performers, and they beautifully conveyed the meaningful themes of family and love.

Mamma Mia, the wildly popular musical written by Catherine Johnson and based on the songs of pop group ABBA, is the story of single-mother Donna and her daughter Sophie. Sophie is engaged to be married and sends out wedding invitations to three different men from her mother's past. Thinking that one of these strangers is her father, Sophie hopes she will be able to discover the truth in time for him to walk her down the aisle. When Sam, Harry, and Bill arrive, chaos ensues as Sophie's plan slowly unravels (much to the dismay of her independent mother who had left her past behind her). Mamma Mia! is a roller coaster ride following the relationships of Donna, Sophie, and their respective friends and lovers as energy builds up to the highly anticipated wedding.

One of the most noteworthy elements of this production was the powerful performances given by both of the leading ladies. Angeline Ignacio (Donna) stunned the audience with her impressive vocals and was authentic and natural in her portrayal of a hard-working mother. Ignacio conveyed realistic relationships with the other characters onstage and in the sweet song Slipping Through My Fingers. Joanna Madamba (Sophie) also did an outstanding job in her role as a young innocent girl trying to figure out who she is and what she wants. Her powerful and consistent voice left the audience floored while she showcased a large spectrum of technical skill. Both Ignacio and Madamba are extremely polished performers, and their commitment to their characters and the show itself was clear throughout.

Other strong presences onstage were the actors playing the three possible dads. Mason Clark (Sam) did a great job portraying Sam's evolution throughout the musical, especially in his duet S.O.S. Nathaniel McCay (Harry) easily slipped into the role of a much older man and he had great chemistry with Ignacio. Their duet, Our Last Summer, was especially touching, and aptly showed off both performers' vocal talent and control. Alex Savage (Bill) also was a very realistic character onstage, and he added humor as well as sweeter and more intimate moments. Another notable performer was Maggie Landis (Tanya) who implemented well-considered characterization in her hilariously delivered lines, and was beautifully complemented and mirrored by Ellie Hubbard (Rosie).

Providing a strong foundation for these individual performers was the energetic and talented ensemble. Dressed in colorful costumes and sprinkled in the background throughout many scenes, the massive ensemble added an air of authenticity to the show itself. This big group was also included in many dance numbers (led by student choreographer Jillian Brooks) and the male ensemble's part in Lay All Your Love on Me was especially hilarious.

With jaw-dropping talent, realistic relationships, and an immense amount of energy, Mamma Mia was an entertaining production that left the audience wanting more. Edison High School, thank you for the music.

Photo by Angela Madamba, from left to right: Ellie Hubbard, Angeline Ignacio, Maggie Landis