When entering the set of “Mamma Mia! The Party” diners are transported to Nikos’ Taverna on the Greek island of Skopelos — where the Mamma Mia film starring Meryl Streep was actually filmed — complete with a cobblestone courtyard and olive trees under a starry sky. While enjoying a two-course meal at the taverna that has been recreated on a soundstage in London’s O2 Arena, the audience is treated to an immersive musical theatre extravaganza built around a gigantic set list of popular Abba songs — 35 in total! The show bills itself as: “Dance, Dine, Have the Time of Your Life” and the 360 degree set is a photographer’s dream environment.
The surprisingly delicious Greek meal comes with a side of cheese of the musical theatre variety where even the waiters and waitresses get in on the act. While serving up hummus and olives, they break into song and dance as the supporting act to the main players.
“Mamma Mia! The Party” is a sparkling bundle of pop-tastic fun and photographer’s dream.
Another extension of the wildly successful Mamma Mia! franchise which already boasts a series of films and a traditional theatre show, “Mamma Mia! The Party” is the brainchild of Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus who has conjured up another runaway success. The show’s love story is based on the premise that one of the crew of the Mamma Mia! film stayed on the island after falling in love with a local man. It’s somewhat hard to follow, although that doesn’t really matter as the crowd has come for the music and on that score the show definitely delivers.
With a Cirque du Soleil style aerial act and a finale complete with pyrotechnics, “Mamma Mia! The Party” is a sparkling bundle of pop-tastic fun, capped off by the tables being pushed back to allow the crowd to release their inner dancing queens. Thank you for the music? Yes, indeed!