Over the last week, the all-time Broadway classic “Mamma Mia!” played in the Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston. This year is its 25th anniversary, counting from its first appearance on Broadway – the musical premiered in 1999. Created by the British playwright Catherine Johnson, “Mamma Mia!” features music from the Swedish pop group ABBA — 22 hits exactly, that have risen to become icons from the 1970s and 1980s. It tells the story of a soon-to-be-married young woman named Sophie, who decides she must solve the biggest mystery in her life, the identity of her biological father in order to have him walk her down the aisle. Seeing her single mother, Donna’s, old diary, she identifies three potential birth fathers, and secretly invites them to the fictional, yet beautifully picturesque Greek island where her mother’s taverna resides to attend the wedding. The arrival of these three men brings out Donna’s stories and struggles then and now, bearing much laughter and tears and a brand new future for many in the story.
Seeing that our school, Concord Academy offered a trip to the Opera House for “Mamma Mia!” On Saturday, October 5, my friends and I put ourselves on the list without hesitation. Indeed, it was a great refreshment from the mundaneness of the week. As the curtains drew open and my vision was filled with the bluest blues of the ocean from the background, my head was cleared. It was as if, as Sophie sat on the steps of the taverna and sang in her tranquil, angelic voice “I Have a Dream”, I could almost smell the salty air of the island and her long, white dress flowed along the rhythm of the breeze.
This special ability of the show struck me again and again as I watched — when classics like “Honey, Honey” and “Dancing Queen” came on, the audience listened and watched as if they had never heard it; when Donna held her daughter’s hand caringly and sang “Slipping Through My Fingers”, streams of tears found its way down many’s faces; finally, when everyone danced along with genuine joy during the encore. Then, I concluded that “Mamma Mia!” is not only a powerful show but a unique kind of culture: that nostalgia, irresistible hum-along, and warm feeling in the chest all embedded in a three-hour performance. Even after more than 25 years, “Mamma Mia”’s visually stunning scenes and catchy yet heartwarming songs continue to resonate, reminding us of its timeless charm across generations.