BILL'S NOTES - mamma mia! - Arts Club Theatre Company

mamma mia!
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BENNY ANDERSSON
AND BJÖRN ULVAEUS
AND SOME SONGS WITH STIG ANDERSON
BOOK BY CATHERINE JOHNSON

MAY 10 – AUG 12, 2018

BILL’S NOTES

My first experience of this jukebox musical
was in Toronto during the run at the Royal
Alexandra Theatre in the early 2000s. The all-
Canadian cast, led by Louise Pitre in the role
of Donna, also included Arts Club veterans
Monique Lund, who later took on the role of
Donna during the North American tour, and
Andrew Wheeler, who played the Australian
dad. During that performance, the infectious
music brought the audience to their feet, with
many people dancing in the aisles, which is a
testament to these well-known ABBA tunes.
I also sensed, based on the popularity of
the show, that it would be at least a decade
before the professional performance rights
would come available for a production by
the Arts Club. So in 2016, when I heard
the rights for Vancouver were open for a
bid, I immediately applied and decided it
would be a part of my final 2017/18 season
at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.
The next decision was selecting the
director and the choreographer. Valerie
Easton, who has choreographed most
of the musicals I have directed since My
Fair Lady in 2001, immediately went to
the top of my list. Valerie has assembled a dynamic creative team and a wonderful
cast. Ken Cormier, the musical director, has been involved with most of our
musicals, as has costume designer Alison Green (Les Misérables). The team also
includes set designer David Roberts (The Piano Teacher), lighting designer Robert
Sondergaard (Rock of Ages), and sound designer Bradley Danyluk (Onegin).
Mamma Mia! closes the 20th season at the Stanley Industrial Alliance
Stage, as well as my last season as Artistic Director. The opening of this
renovated movie house in 1998 was one of the highlights of my career.
Many individuals were involved in the campaign to ‘Save the Stanley’ and
it was through their efforts that we enjoy this beautiful theatre space with
its heritage features. Enjoy Mamma Mia! and enjoy the Stanley.

Bill Millerd, Artistic Director Emeritus

2 Bill’s Notes: Mamma Mia!

SUMMARY

On a beautiful island in Greece,
twenty-year-old Sophie Sheridan is           THE SMASH-HIT MUSICAL BASED ON THE SONGS OF ABBA

about to get married. There’s just one
problem: she has no idea who her
father is. After stumbling upon her
mother’s old diaries, Sophie discov-
ers that she in fact has three possible
fathers and decides to invite them all
to her upcoming wedding, without
telling her mother or fiancé. Three
days before the wedding, Sam, Bill,
and Harry (the suspected fathers)
arrive, along with Sophie’s two best
friends and her mother Donna’s
friends, Tanya and Rosie. When the
potential fathers learn that Donna
actually didn’t invite them and Donna
suddenly discovers their presence on
the island, mishaps starts to ensue.
When Sky, Sophie’s fiancé, learns
what she’s done, he becomes upset
and questions whether the wedding
should continue at all. The wedding
draws closer and closer and Sophie
and her friends try to identify which
of the three men is truly her father.
Meanwhile, Donna starts melting
down as all the men from her past
begin to confront her about their past
relationships, particularly Sam.
                                                               THE CAST. PHOTO BY DAVID COOPER
Donna, who doesn’t fully support her
daughter’s early marriage, eventually
tries to call off the wedding, sending Sophie into a tailspin. But the two are
able to reconcile and Sophie decides that it would be far better to have her
mother walk her down the aisle, than a father she’s never known. Finally
the wedding day arrives and all three men are convinced they are the father,
however, a turn of events send Donna down the aisle instead of Sophie. But
all turns out happily in this fun and frothy musical about family, growing up,
and love.

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COSTUME SKETCHES
by Alison Green

4 Bill’s Notes: Mamma Mia!

WHO IS ‘ABBA’?

Members Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, and Frida
Lyngstad make up the band which originated in Sweden in the 1970s. They
started out competing in European music festivals where some of their early
songs garnered attention, but it wasn’t until their third album ‘ABBA’ that the
band hit worldwide success. The band took their simple name by combin-
ing the first letters of their first names (including Frida’s proper first name,
Anni-Frid). Despite their overwhelming success, the group began to run out
of energy in the early ’80s, especially after Benny and Frida announced their
divorce. The women began to focus their attention on their solo careers and
the men set their sights on composing the musical Chess. Eventually, at the
end of 1982, they took a “temporary break.” It was the musical Chess that
got playwright Catherine Johnson excited about ABBA’s music and began to
weave a plot out of their hits, with full support from all the band members.
Luckily, Björn Ulvaeus was insistent that, although many of ABBA’s songs
already have story within them, the Mamma Mia! story should be at the fore-
front and if lyrics needed to be changed, they should. The smash-hit musical
was released in London in 1999.

After a 35 year hiatus, ABBA announced an unprecedented return on April 27,
2018, with two new songs recorded for a project in which avatars of the band
will perform.

5 Bill’s Notes: Mamma Mia!

SPOTLIGHT ON:                               AN ENCHANTING

ONCE                                        GUY-MEETS-GIRL
                                            MUSICAL

June 14– July 29, 2018
Granville Island Stage

Once is not only an acclaimed musical,
but also a unique and intimate
theatrical experience. It tells the story
of a struggling Irish busker and a
determined young Czech woman, who
pursue their musical ambitions while
navigating the complexities of love.
The multi-talented performers never
leave the stage and play all their own
music. With its heartfelt folk ballads
and DIY aesthetic, Once combines the
                                                                 ONCE
liveliness of a jam session with the
nuanced emotions of a musical drama.

Adapted from an Academy Award–winning film, Once begins when Guy, an
aspiring Dublin musician, decides to abandon his dream. He is plagued by self-
doubt after a recent heartbreak. Girl, a Czech woman, watches Guy busking and
takes an interest in his songs. She challenges his pessimism with her passion
for music and her fierce determination. With Girl’s encouragement, they form a
band, bringing together a rag-tag group of enthusiastic but amateur musicians.
As they record their first album, they must navigate the group’s lack of experi-
ence, along with Guy and Girl’s growing feelings for each other. Though Guy
and Girl are connected by music, they are divided by their complicated romantic
situations. Ultimately, both must choose whether to salvage their existing rela-
tionships or embrace this new attraction.

Once is a different kind of musical, capturing the atmosphere of a recording
studio, an open-mic night, and a busking performance. Its versatile cast invites
us into an intimate love story, which embraces complexity. Beyond romance,
Once explores the importance of pursuing our dreams and the power of music
to draw people together. Packed with memorable folk songs, it is a truly unique
experience.

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