Mamma Mia! is the mother of all musicals these days and begins the longest run of any Chemainus Theatre Festival production in history Friday, May 24 with the first of 100 performances.
It鈥檚 also destined to be the theatre鈥檚 all-time best seller, as the buzz about this show continues to build in advance of the opening.
Michelle Vogelgesang, the theatre鈥檚 marketing and sales director, said the show was almost 50 per cent sold as of last week. Blocks of tickets were suddenly being purchased, as people made sure to secure preferred dates between now and the finale on Aug. 31.
鈥淟ots of excitement,鈥� said Vogelgesang. 鈥淚 think tickets will go fast.鈥�
鈥淚 do feel like I鈥檓 stepping into a show that has already inherent energy about it,鈥� said hometown Chemainus actress Erin Ormond, who plays the role of Tonya.
鈥淧eople really identify with these characters. I feel like we鈥檙e creating something exciting. It felt like a party. Everybody鈥檚 so joyous and happy - ready to go and ready to work.鈥�
Rehearsals started on April 29 and it鈥檚 been a fast track to the opening for the cast and the behind-the-scenes crew.
The award-winning story of Mamma Mia! is magnified by the songs of ABBA, composed by former members of the band, Benny Andersson and Bj枚rn Ulvaeus.
Mamma Mia! tells the story of Donna (Stephanie Roth), an independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on a beautiful Greek island. She is about to let go of spirited daughter Sophie, whom she鈥檚 raised alone.
For Sophie鈥檚 (Alex Gullason) wedding, Donna has invited two lifelong best girlfriends - practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Jenni Burke) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tonya (Ormond) - from her one-time backup band, Donna and the Dynamos.
Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna鈥檚 past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier.
New love blooms and old romances rekindled over the course of 24 chaotic and magical hours on a lush island full of possibilities. The show is packed with the magic of ABBA鈥檚 many well-known hit songs that don鈥檛 need any introduction such as Super Trouper; Dancing Queen; Knowing Me, Knowing You; Take a Chance on Me; Money, Money, Money; The Winner Takes It All; and SOS.
Ormond said it鈥檚 her first time working with Burke, but she鈥檚 seen her on stage before. The three women have found instant chemistry in their roles.
鈥淚 knew stepping in, these are some fantastic women I鈥檓 going to be working with,鈥� said Ormond.
Despite her abundant stage experience, Ormond said it鈥檚 been at least 20 years since she鈥檚 done a singing role.
鈥淭his is huge,鈥� she indicated. 鈥淭o come and do a summer musical of this scale is a huge gift.
鈥淭he talent, I鈥檓 in awe as I hear them sing and dance and how they put it together.鈥�
Ormond gives huge kudos to the stage, lighting, costume and directing personnel for their work on the production.
ABBA music is one element that strikes a chord for Ormond with her dad, who鈥檚 deceased, from their past.
鈥淚 would sit and listen to the records over and over,鈥� she conceded. 鈥淢y dad鈥檚 favourite song was Fernando. Being part of the show has another whole layer for me. That was one of my connections with my dad.
鈥淭he other part about the music, I find, it鈥檚 deceivingly simple. There鈥檚 this infused sense of joy every time we start singing the songs.鈥�
Getting everybody moving and having a good time is what it鈥檚 all about.
鈥淪tephanie said by the time you start doing the show, everybody鈥檚 in a good mood,鈥� added Ormond.
Playing Tonya has been enlightening in so many ways.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 very real the relationship between the women,鈥� Ormond explained. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all in different places in their lives.鈥�
For her character, 鈥渟he鈥檚 finding herself again. I think that connection with her youth reminds her of that part of herself, strong and free.鈥�
It鈥檚 going to be an extremely busy several months for Ormond. She steps right into the production of Mrs. Warren鈥檚 Profession, running Sept. 13-Oct. 5, overlapping rehearsal time while Mamma Mia! is still on stage.
