M’CHIGEENG—Disco isn’t dead—no, no, no it’s onstage, looking good. The Manitoulin Secondary School production of ‘Momma Mia’ brought the music and styling of that musical ‘70s era to life with the songs of ABBA (music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulaeus) informing a story of a young woman seeking her paternal roots.
The storyline has all the earmarks of a delightful farce, as the action takes place on a sun-drenched Greek Island where 20-year-old bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan (Pheobe Aeschlimann) is hoping to discover the identity of her father. Having discovered her hotelier mother’s diary, Sophie has narrowed the field down to three men who her mother was “involved with.” Without her mother’s knowledge, she has invited all three to her wedding sure that she will know who her father is at first sight. Of course, that doesn’t happen.
The production followed the ensuing tensions with great hilarity and plenty of great songs—albeit there was no disclaimer warning of potential earworms.
Once again MSS students and volunteers have outdone themselves, adding yet another poster of a successful production to the school cafeteria/theatre walls.
Ms. Aeschlimann opened the show with an overture/prologue followed by ‘Honey, Honey’ wherein she was ably accompanied by Ali (Saramarie Wassegijig) and Lisa (Evalena Mainprize).
The prospective fathers, Sam Carmichael (Jordan Goddard), Bill Austin (Dylan Kuntsi) and Harry Bright (Garret Charbonneau) provided hilarious foils to both daughter Sophie and mom Donna Sheridan (Cameron Meawasige) as they worked their way toward the wedding day. Each of the prospective fathers eventually wound up being tasked with walking Sophie down the aisle.
Mother Donna Sheridan was once a free spirit lead singer of the trio Donna and the Dynamos and her two lifelong friends Rosie (Divine Commanda) and Tanya (Maddy Latva-Aro) attempt to rekindle some of the old Donna.
Meanwhile, off to the side and above the orchestra pit (directed by Chris Theijsmeijer) the ABBA singers Lexi Chan, Taylor Goodfellow and Robyn-Ashley McNaughton provided backup that added significant depth to many of the numbers being performed.
The orchestra pit itself is worthy of mention, as MSS boasts one of the few high school productions that has live music accompanying its plays in the province—that largely thanks to a dedicated group of talented volunteers.
This year that cadre included conductor (and keyboardist) Chris Theijsmeijer. The band included four keyboard players, with the quartet being filled out by Alex Baran, Ray Scott and Holly Scott. Jon Best is on guitar along with Annette Smith (also bass) and Bill Elgie fills out the team with percussion.
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