I lived in London for a very long time and went to see a great deal of theatre while there but one show I never quite managed to go to was Mamma Mia. I’m not sure why because surely it’s one of the most famous and long running the west end has seen but alas, we never went.

I know the music, of course I do! Who isn’t an ABBA fan after all and once you start singing those songs, well, you just can’t stop! Yet the occasion never arose and even after falling in love with the film when it came out I still didn’t book tickets. What was I thinking and why didn’t we go? I’ve no idea if I’m truthful but my time to see Mamma Mia arrived this last weekend and after leaving the show, with a little girl already begging to go see it again, I can’t help but think it was perfect timing and something was holidng me back for a reason.

My daughter, who is six, is well versed in west end theatre and has gone to many perfomances from an incredibly young age. Her first big musical was when I took her to see Wicked and it knocked her socks off while the audience around us, noticing how tiny she was, simply coudn’t help but also revel in her delight at seeing it. That was an evening performance and possibly a little late for her because she was only three at the time but my word she managed to keep those little eyes open and concentrate. She was bitten then I think by the musical bug and just like her Mummy became a massive fan!

And… This weekend when I was invited to a special press showing of Mamma Mia, one which invited children to come along as well, and also to carry on enjoying the moment afterwards with afternoon tea next door at the Waldorf Hotel, she was my absolute first choice of companion. The show is about mothers and daughters and love and laughter, just up our street and perfect for a girlie day out so we asked a friend and her Mummy to come along with us and make it an extra special experience of a ‘girl’s day out’.

The little ones were excited and actually so were my friend and I. We listened to ABBA’s back catalogue for a week before hand and within days the girls knew all the words to all the songs so I just knew it was going to be lots of fun. And when we walked in the wrong direction for the theatre (stupid GPS) and had to get a rickshaw to take us there, it turned out to be the most perfectly fun way to start the experience which just got better and better and better!

And it literally blew my socks off from the first note of the opening number to the last shimmy, the last song and the last bow taken on the stage. It was, without doubt, truly amazing! My daughter, my little six year old Florence, smiled from ear to ear throughout the entire thing, sang along to everything and just enjoyed every single second as did her friend. And as did I! Take a little look at the official trailer to try and get a little of the essence that we took away which was happiness and pure joy!

 

The story line is fun, I think most people know it but just incase you are unfamiliar it sees Donna, a hard working English woman who runs a hotel on an Island in Greece with her only daughter Sophie preparing for Sophie’s wedding. Sophie has never known her Father and writes to three possible contenders without telling her Mother they are arriving for the wedding and there the fun begins.

Who is Sophie’s Dad? Well, you’ll have to watch the show to find out for I shan’t spoil it but trust me when I tell you it’s a story worth watching with ABBA songs to take you through it and some fine, fine dancing and acting as well as singing throughout. Mazz Murray who plays Tanya, one of Donna’s best friends arrived on the island for the wedding absolutely steals the show with her beauty of portraying a slightly sozzled, single and thrice divorced and ‘still got it’ older lady and made us giggle and giggle and giggle. Richard Trinder as Sam Carmichael, one of three potential Dads is there to provide the total guy candy and Sanne Den Besten who plays Sophie has the most tremendous voice. But saying that, the whole cast, ensemble, leads, swings… They were all terrific!

By the time the fast paced, full of soul and lively show came to an end with a tripple finale, Florence and I were on our feet! I had her in my arms and we were singing louder than anyone to ‘Dancing Queen’ as we swayed along with everyone else! It was probably the best final we’ve ever seen in a show and I know that I’ve said this before (once) but it really, really is!

Mamma Mia is so involving, so wonderfully full of party and without doubt the most fun we’ve had in ages. It also has what I call the ‘Great British Bake Off’ effect in that it spans all generations with its appeal. I kid you not that Florence requested a re-visit before we’d even left the theatre, before we’d even left the auditorium in fact!

And I don’t blame her! I want to go again too!

So, Mamma Mia, all I can say is ‘Thank you for the music’, You’re brilliant! And these girls, who know all the words to all the songs really did have the best time!

To book tickets call the box office on 0844 482 5115. Shows are Monday – Saturday at 7.45PM with Matinees – Thursday & Saturday at 3.00PM and an Extra Matinee onTuesday 25 October 2016 and Tuesday 14 February 2017.

Ticket Prices to 22 October 2016: Monday to Friday Performances: £65.00, £39.50, £25.00, £15.00. Saturday Performances: £69.50, £52.50, £39.50, £25.00, £15.00 Ticket Prices from 24 October 2016: Monday to Friday Performances: £67.50, £39.50, £25.00, £15.00 Saturday Performances: £72.50, £52.50, £39.50, £25.00, £15.00 Premium tickets are also available.Saturday pricing applies to all performances: 24 – 29 October 2016, 26 – 31 December 2016 and 13 – 18 February 2017. A £2.25 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked online, and a £2.75 per ticket booking fee applies to tickets booked by phone. No booking fee on tickets purchased in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office. ALL PRICES INCLUDE £1.25 RESTORATION LEVY.

We were invited to the show and to enjoy afternoon tea at the Waldorf Hotel afterwards for the purpose of an honest review.