![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/GROtWT_A.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Caught in the Moment Photography, as is the big one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
That being said, even they<\/em> could not change my opinion of this internationally-acclaimed musical. I know that I\u2019m in the minority on that, but you know that I always call \u2019em as I see \u2019em, so here we are.<\/p>\n I do have a few small issues with this particular production, as well, but most of my dislikes of Mamma Mia<\/em> have to do with the script<\/em>, which, of course, is not the fault of any<\/em> company who is mounting it. The storyline is absolutely inane to begin with. I have no idea how this musical became so universally popular.<\/p>\n Photo by Caught in the Moment Photography.<\/p><\/div>\n But, despite what I<\/em> think of it, Mamma Mia<\/em> is an absolute phenomenon! It\u2019s been produced all over the world, and is a hit every place. I have since researched it, and am shocked by the magnitude of the love for this show! I just don\u2019t get it at all. Mr. X and I saw it elsewhere for the first time a few years ago, and discovered that we\u2019re definitely not fans. When I was invited to this current rendition, I figured that if any<\/em> theatre company could change our opinion of it, it was 3D Theatricals. But, sadly for us, even they<\/em> could not.<\/p>\n Most of the blame is not on them, though. The story<\/em> is ridiculous, even for 1999, when it was first produced. For me, Mamma Mia is the most soulless musical of all time. It\u2019s downright pedestrian, and is the least clever show in history. But the masses love it, so go figure.<\/p>\n Photo by Caught in the Moment Photography.<\/p><\/div>\n In case you\u2019re one of the few doesn\u2019t know anything about it, it\u2019s a jukebox musical with all the songs by the \u201970s group Abba. But unlike Jersey Boys <\/em>or On Your Feet<\/em>, which incorporate the famous tunes into the tale of the rise to stardom of the actual artists, (in those cases, the Four Seasons and Gloria Estefan, respectively,) with Mamma Mia<\/em>, someone wrote an absurd story about an American woman in Greece not knowing who her baby daddy is. So, because of her promiscuous behavior, she lets her daughter grow-up without a father. And that<\/em> scenario is played for laughs! Real fodder for a supposedly light-hearted musical, eh? And the end is truly unbelievable, on every level. There\u2019s really no one to root for in this one.<\/p>\n In addition to the beyond stupid story, I am sooo<\/em> not a fan of Abba\u2019s music, except for the song Dancing Queen<\/em>, and that one only because it reminds me of my cherished pals in Aspen, whom I love so much that I even used to deign to go to \u201970s night at one of our clubs with them.\u00a0 But if you\u2019re<\/em> into their songs, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll enjoy hearing exclusively them all night.<\/p>\n The curtain call concert. Photo by Caught in the Moment Photography.<\/p><\/div>\n The best part of this show is the curtain call, and I’m not even being cheeky by insinuating that\u2019s because it\u2019s finally over. I really mean it–after the bows, the company does a three-song mini-concert, which leaves the audience on their feet, and euphoric.\u00a0 And that’s the feeling everyone remembers, so I do love that part because I\u2019m a big believer in the old adage, \u201cit\u2019s not how you start, it\u2019s how you finish.\u201d And the Redondo Beach opening night crowd was very<\/em> appreciative, as I\u2019m sure just about everyone who sees this show is.<\/p>\n There are a few positives of this<\/em> particular production of Mamma Mia<\/em>, chief among them being the gorgeous almost-naked body of Clayton Jones, who plays the daughter’s fianc\u00e9. (But even that<\/em> brilliant bit of casting could not save this one for me. And that\u2019s saying something!!!)<\/p>\n Another piece of good news for potential 3D Theatricals audiences is that the timing of them producing the show now<\/em> could not be better\u2014the Mamma Mia<\/em> movie sequel<\/em> has just been released, so lots of people will be happy to view the original tale right before they see the new film.<\/p>\n Photo by Caught in the Moment Photography.<\/p><\/div>\n Also, as usual with 3D, the set, by Stephen Gifford, is excellent. Mr. X especially appreciated the beautiful blue background, which he pointed-out shimmers<\/em> on occasion. When they show just that sky backdrop with a simple structure indicating a pier in front of it, the image is breathtaking. My bae also said that the semblance of architecture combined with the flowers and perfect color palette really give us the sense of a Greek island. Those images make the viewers happy right off the bat.<\/p>\n All that positivity aside, I have to be honest and tell you that I was left scratching my head over much of the casting. 3D Theatricals usually employs several of their actors over and over, and they\u2019re all extremely talented, (i.e. Julia Aks, Dino Nicandros, and Rufus Bonds, Jr.,) as I\u2019ve documented over the years. But this appears to be a whole different group. Most of the younger members of the ensemble seem like they came straight from a high school theatre department. And just about everyone<\/em> totally overdoes the frequent schmaltz that\u2019s built into the script.<\/p>\n Candi Milo in the center. Photo by Caught in the Moment Photography.<\/p><\/div>\n The lone standout is Candi Milo, who plays one of the mother\u2019s two gal pals. She\u2019s wonderful! And very funny; there\u2019s a spark to the show every time she speaks. She\u2019s the best singer on stage, as well. (I found-out later that she\u2019s the voice of Dexter on Dexter\u2019s Laboratory<\/em>, a cartoon show that I\u2019ve loved forever, so now I admire her even more!)<\/p>\n While we\u2019re on the subject of singing, I hate saying this, but I must be truthful, as always, because this really bothered me: The weirdest casting is Martin Kildare as the mother\u2019s main old love interest. He appears to be a good enough actor, but singing is clearly not his forte. I just don\u2019t understand the choosing of a non<\/em>-singer for a musical<\/em> role. (Unless he’s Rex Harrison, of course.)<\/p>\n Even with my not enjoying the story or music or performances, I\u2019m still glad that I spent the time on this show because I really do love this company. And, as I stated at the start of this review, Mamma Mia<\/em> is 3D Theatricals\u2019 last production at this venue because they\u2019re moving full-time to the Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts, a move I\u2019m wishing them total success with. (One note, though, about this<\/em> fabulous theatre that they\u2019re leaving, the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. I sat in their back section for the second half of this show, which I had never done before, and the sightlines are great! I think it\u2019s the best back-of-the-house of any theatre I\u2019ve been in!)<\/p>\n Now, even with my few issues of this<\/em> staging from this company, I look really forward to their next<\/em> season. What a line-up they have!!! I can\u2019t wait to see their second production, A<\/em> Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder<\/em>. Now that\u2019s<\/em> a great show, and I\u2019m confidant that its excellence will shine through in the hands of 3D Theatricals!<\/p>\n Mamma Mia<\/em> running through August 12, 2018<\/strong> MAMMA MIA I have to admit upfront that I am not a fan of the musical Mamma Mia, in general, nor of the music of the group Abba. So it is such a tribute to this theater company, 3D Theatricals, that I put my dislikes aside and went to see their version of the show,<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center<\/strong>
\n 1935 E. Manhattan Blvd., Redondo Beach 714-589-2770<\/strong>
\n Then continues through August 26, 2018<\/strong>
\n Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts<\/strong>
\n 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos 562-916-8500<\/strong>
\n www.3dtshows.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"