Review Mamma Mia!

Bristol Hippodrome The much awaited Mamma Mia! arrived in Bristol last night and played to an ecstatic audience.

The cynic in me said that a show that has been unashamedly manufactured from 22 Abba hits and a flimsy tale with the purpose of filling theatres for many years must have no heart.

But Mamma Mia! is no compilation musical or tribute show. Bristolian Catherine Johnson's story is funny, poignant and clever and the cast are energetic and talented.

Feisty single mum Donna Sheridan runs a taverna on a Greek island and her daughter Sophie is about to get married to the love of her life, Sky.

But Sophie wants her father to walk her down the aisle. Her problem is she doesn't know who her father is as Donna had three lovers. So she secretly invites all three possible dads to the wedding. And so the tale unfolds until the day of the wedding.

Carolanne Weidle who plays Donna is the star of the performance with a powerful voice who brings the house down with her rendition of The Winner Takes It All. Together with her old friends Rose (Felicity Duncan) and Tanya (Anita Booth) the trio belt out song after song and steal the show. Fabulous Haley Flaherty is like a young Olivia Newton-John, who plays Sophie as a sweet girl who wants her kids to grow up knowing their dad.

The mix of Abba songs, camp dance routines and flamboyant costumes and a touch of seventies tackiness makes for a great evening of fun and pleasure.

By the finale the audience was rocking to Dancing Queen in the aisles. Bristol was buzzing and will do so for the next nine weeks of the run. I'll definitely be going again.