Mamma Mia! It Shimmers and Shines on Paramount Stage

(seated, from left) Amy Montgomery is Donna and Kiersten Frumkin plays Sophie, Donna’s daughter and nervous bride-to-be in Paramount Theatre’s Mamma Mia! (rear, from left) Donna’s best friends Tanya, played by Jennifer Knox, and Rosie, played by Sara Sevigny, look on. Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti directs, William Carlos Angulo is choreographer and Tom Vendafreddo is music director and conductor. Performances are September 11-October 30, 2016 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., in downtown Aurora, IL. Tickets and information: ParamountAurora.com or (630) 896-6666 Photo credit: Liz Lauren

Donna (Amy Montgomery) and Sophie (Kiersten Frumkin) in Paramount Theatre’s Mamma Mia! Donna’s best friends Tanya, played by Jennifer Knox, and Rosie, played by Sara Sevigny, look on. Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti directs, William Carlos Angulo is choreographer and Tom Vendafreddo is music director and conductor. Performances are through October 30, 2016 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., in downtown Aurora, IL. Tickets and information: ParamountAurora.com or (630) 896-6666 Photo credit: Liz Lauren

Review by Marissa Amoni

Mamma Mia! A sweet love story woven together by a bunch of pop hits by the Swedish group ABBA. That’s impressive enough, but on the Paramount stage, Mamma Mia! shimmers and shines. It becomes a two-hour-plus vacation to a Greek isle. For Paramount subscribers, that’s a pretty affordable vacation, but I digress.

I’m not entirely familiar with ABBA’s catalog, but I enjoy the radio hits that I know like “Dancing Queen” and “Take a Chance on Me.” There were several fans in the crowd, who undoubtedly were singing along to every song. I’m just not huge on disco, but with Amy Montgomery’s powerful performance as mother Donna, I enjoyed the singing just the same as those ABBA die-hards.

Montgomery does an impressive job in the strong-willed role. Daughter Sophie, beautifully performed by Kiersten Frumkin, seeks out her father(s) after stumbling upon her mother’s diary. It turns out to be a little more complicated than a simple love song – who knew that ABBA songs could be so insightful.

I especially enjoyed the performances by several of the supporting cast members. Sara Sevigny as Donna’s friend, Rosie, is a real treat; it was like having Melissa McCarthy on stage. It’s now on my list of things to do to check out Sevigny at Chicago’s The Factory Theater. Jennifer Knox is adorably fun as Donna’s other gal pal, Tanya.

Sky (Ryan McBride) is a hunk of a charming fiance. Director Jim Corti does such a perfect job adding just the right amount of heat into a show. The not-quite-zipped-up wet suit is a nice touch. The three-could-be dads also shine on the stage. That Sophie is one lucky girl.

As always with a Paramount show, the entire cast gives it their all. It’s really a show about women and friendships and, ultimately, being flexible.

I would tell a 20-year-old me to run to see Mamma Mia!

 

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