Mamma Mia! (Broadway) — My Review

When & Where

• Date: 18 October 2025
• Theatre: Winter Garden Theatre (about 1,500 seats)
• Seat / Price: Balcony (2nd level), Row G, Seat 39 — $109
• My runtime that day: 2:00pm–4:35pm (about 2h 35m). The official guide lists about 2h 30m including an interval.

Note: Mamma Mia! returned to Broadway for a limited engagement at the Winter Garden in 2025.

First thoughts

I’ve seen the Japanese production a few times and went through an ABBA phase when I was 19–20, so I already liked the show. But this time was different: I didn’t just enjoy watching it — I wanted to be in it. The energy on stage made me think, I want to share that space and that joy.

Good Points

1) Pros who play hard — and know when to land a punchline

The six leads — Donna, Tanya, Rosie and Sam, Harry, Bill — dive into the comedy at full tilt when it’s time to be silly, then lock back into focus and sincerity in serious moments. That switch keeps the crowd leaning in. I found myself waiting for their next entrance every time.

2) Smart costume choices

Two small choices made a big difference:

• In “Lay All Your Love on Me,” the men’s ensemble arrives in swim gear (snorkels/fins). It’s bold enough to be funny but not overloaded.
• At the top of Act Two, the ensemble returns with rescue-diver vibes (life jackets and bright armbands), echoing the earlier joke but refreshing it.
• In the wedding scene, the pink outfits pop against a mostly white setting — simple, charming, and mood-setting.

3) A simple set that lets actors shine

Compared with recent big-spectacle shows I’ve seen (MJ, Wicked, Moulin Rouge!), Mamma Mia! felt clear: I could track everyone and read what they were doing. That clarity seems helped by a light, white-based design and unfussy scene changes. Not a criticism of spectacle — just a reminder that you can tell a story by design, by tech, or by actors. Here the balance favours the actors, and it works.

Afterthought

Watching seasoned performers fool around with purpose is a lesson. Hit the comic beats, give the audience a clean window to laugh, then deliver open, powerful singing when the music arrives. That’s the craft I want to grow.

Verdict

A feel-good revival that still lands. It made me want to get up there, and it sent me home with light in the chest.

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