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AVOID!!!! Tired show with horrible acting Review by: Alan J., Feb 3, 2012 |
We came to New York from Seattle last minute. I had business work, my family toured for the day, and I called my wife to ask her to get tickets for a show. She spoke to a young lady on the street who gave my wife a flyer for a discount to Mamma Mia. I spoke to my wife and we both agreed it was a good deal for the two of us and three children, How wrong we were to fall for a good deal! This show is horrible. No set, zero plot and bad acting. We ... read more had a lead who was an understudy, and she was beyond horrible. I don't wish to be rude to actors who are trying to do the best they can, but she was off key and WAY to old for the part. The rest of the cast was high school caliber at best. The girls all seemed like they were phoning in the performance, and my wife commented to me, she has never seen chorus boys who were so overweight. Maybe we caught the show on a bad night, but my wife and myself were horrified how bad this musical was. We spent over 400$ on this night and wished we tried another show. At Broadway prices the standard should be much bigger. Some numbers we could barely hear what the cast was singing, and at the end they take more bows than I have ever seen in my life for a sub par show. Just save your money and go somewhere else. They advertised this show was ten years old.......it shows. Rent the movie, don't waste your money.
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Tourists
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| 2 |
IT WAS THRILLING!! Review by: mimi, Jan 18, 2012 |
WOW!!
I RECEIVED TICKETS TO MAMMA MIA FOR CHRISTMAS AND WAS SO PLEASED WITH THE SHOW IT WAS LIKE A PARTY!! THE ACTING WAS MARVELOUS AND THE SINGING WAS TO DIE FOR HAD SO MUCH FUN WISH IT COULD HAVE GONE ON AND ON...WOULD SEE AGAIN... |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 3 |
Review by: bellorusha, Jan 16, 2012 |
| I am Brodway fan, but this play way just Horrible, it looked like a school play. Singing was horrible, playing was horrible. Don't get it how can it be so unprofessional. The tickets was on Sale, so I guess the play was on sale as well. :( |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 4 |
Never Thought a Broadway Show would have Bad Singing & Dancing Review by: LuvMusic, Jan 15, 2012 |
I wish I had read reviews before purchasing tickets, even at discount. It's the first time ever that my kids and I saw a broadway show and was made aware of poor singing, dancing and acting -- usually you're entertained or blown away. You certainly are not noticing poor dancing and acting ... at broadway level? Unbelievable. Some actresses won't even make the cut for a high school production, and if they did, would be so unmemorable.
First ... read more scene of Sophie and friends was so awkward and painful. Failed to draw audience and felt so contrived -- really weird to cringe at a broadway musical. Sophie understudy, Felicity Claire, was off-key, 2nd phrase of 1st song. Music sometimes drowned out her voice. It's her first broadway debut but even a first debut should be good. We can't believe how/why Catherine Ricafort landed Sophie's friend's role, let alone any Broadway role at all! Her voice is okay at best, but can't dance or act! Her lack-lustre dancing painfully stood out. If she can dance at all, she sure made a good job of not showing it. I kept watching her because I was just amazed how she got in -- she could be at a school show and she would be "just Ok" at best. Seriously.
Over all, it truly felt like a cheap production. Tried so hard to like it because we couldn't believe a broadway show would ever feel like a school production that's not done well.
Lisa Brescia who played Donna was the only great start quality actress. Excellent singing, great acting. She was truly amazing.
It's a good thing the songs are great. Otherwise, we would have been truly bummed out. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 5 |
Utter Disappointment - Would Not Recommend Review by: Showtime100, Dec 26, 2011 |
Tonight, we drove from Washington DC to enjoy a few days in NYC with our four daughters. We decided to see Mama Mia. Utter disappointment. At times, I had flashbacks to my junior high school plays/talent show.
First, the photo advertisement of Mama Mia is almost fraudulent. There is no element or sense of the photo in any sense from beginning to end - who is that photo of? Certainly not anyone who appeared during the show.
Second, ... read more while it is entirely understandable to adapt a musical to current themes and times, it is entirely another thing to use it as an excuse to produce a low budget version of High School Musical.
Third, I took my wife and four daughters, and I was embarrassed and ended up apologizing to them for not reading the other reviews.
The musical is, well, rather bad.
Fourth, I was rather surprised at the lines, the standing and singing, while the sound system continuously blew the hairpiece of the unfortunately fellow who was seated directly in front of the speakers.
Fifth, my wife had seen Mama Mia seven years ago, and the only comment she had was that the show had lost its value and its class.
Finally, if I want to sit in a dark room and hear bad ABBA renditions, then I would rather sit in an Australian pub and listen to Karaoke ABBA while enjoying a beer.
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 6 |
Great Dissapointment Review by: Jacqueline, Dec 9, 2011 |
I sat down in my seat with high hopes for this production, after hearing good things about the show. I have been fortunate enough to see several broadway musicals in the last 3 months while in New York and have learnt to expect high quality acting, singing, dancing, staging, lighting and set design.
This was a complete disappointment, the staging was award, the acting was average, and a lot of the singing was so far under par it was funny. ... read more The definite highlight of the night was watching the usher dancing at the back of the theatre during the encore/bows.
I have seen several high-school and community theatre productions that have been put together better than this "Professional" production.
I should also add that I love ABBA, the Mamma Mia Story, and am 100% pro-musical, so I am incredible surprised I did not like it. |
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Don't go
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| 7 |
Get another Sophie Review by: I love Broadway, Nov 28, 2011 |
| Well it was half bad. And half good. I REAAAAAAAAAALLY don't understand how they cast their Sophie. Her voice is..sooo weak and off key. I know community theater actresses who could blow her away; I just don't get it! The show was fine for ABBA lovers; the other leads were decent. There are so many unemployed actors who would kill to be in a paid production, let alone Bwy. Cast a different Sophie!! PUHLEAZE!!! |
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My recommendation:
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| 8 |
If you like music, you will NOT like this show Review by: musiclover, Nov 28, 2011 |
I am surprised that a show like this survives on Broadway. I thought a high school production could be better.
The sound system is really bad. It is pushed to make up for the inefficiencies of the singers. This made everything worse. For the last two songs, they pushed the volume to maximum, the only thing that could be heard was distortion, there was no music.
It is a waste of money and time. I would ask for my money back if there was a ... read more possibility. |
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| 9 |
Not The Best Review by: Bman, Nov 14, 2011 |
| Very dissappointing. I saw the opening and London and found it to be a great show. No doubt the music is great, but the show we saw in New York in October was slow and the acting was fair at best |
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My recommendation:
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Large Group
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Recommended for:
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| 10 |
Mama Mia a wonderful birthday pesent Review by: Suzy Q, Oct 6, 2011 |
I saw Mama Mia last year, I was so disappointed when I reach intermission time, the play was great,in no time I got into the grove singing moving too th music, its was like a live concert i have been to .... everyone was singing and it was great fun
yesteday I went with my girl friends.... We all enjoyed ourselves, it was worth seeing a second time I have no regrets.... Once again i will recommend this show too anyone ... young or old.... No ... read more age limit require
Suezy Q |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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MAMMA MIA! Review by: GreekkGirll101, Sep 25, 2011 |
| I just saw this today and I thought it was wonderful! You wanted to sing along to every song and it made you laugh as well. People say that Liana Hunt (Sophie Sheridan) doesn't have a good voice but I thought she had a very pretty voice. However, Lisa Brescia (Donna Sheridan) definitely was the best of the cast. She had an EXTREMELY amazing voice and was a wonderful actress as well. It really shocked me at how long she could hold a note for (The ... read more Winner Takes It All). GO SEE IT! You'll have a GREAT time! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Recommended for:
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| 12 |
Fantastic foot tapping show. Review by: rh, Jul 28, 2011 |
| Saw this show a couple of years ago so my review may be off for the current production, but I must say I fell in love with this musical, the songs were so nostalgic and brought back memories of my teen years. The actors were very competent, I forget who the main actress was at that time, but I remember they were all wonderful, especially her 2 friends, everyone sang beautifully. Made me want to go to Greece. The sets were ok, but All ... read more in all a most enjoyable performance, felt like Dancing Queens in the aisles...... |
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Make an effort to see
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| 13 |
A MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Review by: Sal, Jul 21, 2011 |
| I saw this show on tour. Liana Hunt was the priniple for sophie. I don't get why no body likes her she is wonderful. Her voice is like a joy to listen to. Michelle Dawson was on as Donna she was wonderful now she is the understudy on Broadway. Kinda sad cause shes really good. This show is wonderful go see its. Its a great night out at the theatre. I promise you will love it :) |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Seniors
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| 14 |
Review by: Broadway Musical Lover, Jul 17, 2011 |
| I saw this show on Friday, July 15, 2011. Regular cast - no understudies. It was terrible. Really terrible. One of the worst Broadway shows that I have ever seen (and I go to see Broadway shows 3-5 times a year). I was really disappointed because of how long this show has been on Broadway and because of the movie. It reminded me of mediocre regional theatre. First, the young woman who played Sophie is simply not Broadway material, as well as ... read more most members of the cast. Her vocals are average and she does not have a strong voice. They need to recast immediately. This is crucial as she plays such a key role in the show. Second, there appears to be a problem with the director and inadaquate direction. The actors were not interacting with one another. For example, for practically the whole production they looked AWAY from each other when speaking (and not at the audience.) There was no "chemistry" between cast members and the whole show is about relationships! Sophie and her mother barely touched one another. Similarly, the main character Donna couldn't even look at the 3 male leads, let along have any physical interaction with them. Also, there were uncomfortably long pauses between the character dialog. Moreover, the main character Donna seemed depressed through the show. I get that she was not supposed to be happy about the situation, but there is absolutely no creativity in the character - it was extremely DULL except for when she sang (she was the strongest singer of the show). Lastly, ABBA music is a lot of fun. My girlfriend and I were bored during this show. There is a lot that can be done with this show if they find a more talented cast and a new director. (Come on - this is NY - there is incredible talent out there!) This show was simply not Broadway material. See something else until the director and the woman who plays Sophie are replaced. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 15 |
EMBARRASSING for Broadway Review by: ro, Jul 11, 2011 |
| The principal cast was weak...every one of them. Harry (played by Mr. Beach) seemed like a reluctant audience volunteer pulled into the whole mess. He was so awkward. NO ONE had a memorable voice. Laughs totally hinged on Ms. Perry's antics which were juvenile and embarrassing. Don't waste your money. I have seen many high school plays of a higher caliber. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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