Mamma Mia at the Ahmanson
We had a glass of wine at the Music Center Plaza before going to a show last night. It was a beautiful night for it—except for the pall of smoke over the area from the Boyle Heights fire. That’s been going on for a week now. I don’t take my hike in the hills anymore because the smoke has particulants in it. Anyway, I ordered a sparkling rose because I wanted something fizzy. We found a table and planned to enjoy the people watching. It’s always good at the Music Center. Usually, there are kids jumping in and out of the fountain. Last night a crowd of Columbians had assembled to watch the soccer match being broadcast on the huge screens. They were wearing their colors. Hands were over hearts when they sang their national anthem. The game had some good moments. The goalie for the Congo was getting a workout but that was the only real action. We had to leave to go to the show so we never did find out who won.
Mamma Mia opened at the Ahmanson last night. I’d seen the show twenty years ago and didn’t particularly care for it. The cast was lackluster but the most annoying thing was the guy next to me. He sang every song—loudly and badly. Left a bad taste in my mouth so I wasn’t expecting much. Boy, was I surprised. The story is silly, of course, but the cast pulled it off. The three Dynamos, Donna’s middle-aged friends, were hysterical. The singers were all amazing and they could all ACT. I appreciated the dance routines—particularly the one that included swim flippers. And, of course, the music is catchy. By the end of the show, everybody was on their feet, dancing and singing to the encore. Good time. I haven’t laughed that hard in ages. Now I understand the appeal. Go see it. It’s a gas