MAMMA MIA WITH OUR DONNA AND SOPHIE

YES Theatre kicked off their 10^th anniversary season with Mamma Mia on July 4^th and the reviews have been outstanding! The show has already broken box office records for the company and after such an outstanding response in its first week has been extended until July 28^th. Mamma Mia takes us on a magical trip to the remote Greek island of Kalokairi set to the music of everyone’s favourite Swedish pop group ABBA! On the Island, we meet Donna and her daughter bride-to-be Sophie and their friends who are all excited to celebrate the big day. Sophie, however, has a few surprise additions to the guest list – her THREE possible fathers! What could go wrong? Jess Crowe and Montana McCulloch are YES Theatre regulars and this season are filling the roles of Donna and Sophie respectively. We got a chance to sit down and get their takes on Mamma Mia and some of their favourite ABBA hits!

You can catch Mamma Mia by YES Theatre at STC until July 28^th. For tickets head to www.yestheatre.com today! And don’t forget about their presentation of James and the Giant Peach coming up August 15^th – 25^th.

Mamma Mia tells its story through the music of everyone favourite 70’s disco-pop group, ABBA! Tell us about your connection to the music of ABBA prior to the show?

JC: Well….everyone knows a little bit of ABBA – they are timeless! But prior to the show, I wouldn’t say I was the biggest ABBA fan. As I work through the material, my connection with the music is getting stronger.

MM: My family and I used to have dance parties when my brother and I were kids. My mom, dad, brother and I would dress in our fanciest attire and dance around the living room. I can specifically remember dancing to “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen” from the ABBA Gold album!

One of our favourite things watching Mamma Mia is the wonderful female friendships! We see Donna’s friends Tanya and Rosie, life long friends come to celebrate this milestone. And of course, we have Sophie and her devoted bridesmaids ready and eager to help leading up to the wedding day. Not to mention Donna and Sophie themselves. Talk to us about portraying these life long friendships on stage and the real-life relationships you drew from?

JC: Girl power really exists on this stage. YES is full of strong independent power-house ladies who are easily some of the best people I know. I am friends with all of them in real life, so portraying the friendships on stage isn’t too hard.  

MM: Playing the role of Sophie and her relationship to Donna came easy to me as it is very similar to my personal relationship with my own mom, she and I are best friends. I also have strong lifelong friendships from school and theatre who support me in everything I do, just like the friends in Mamma Mia.

In Mamma Mia the big question is who is Sophie’s father; Harry, Sam or Bill. Our question to you is – which character do you think is most like your own father? 

JC: Bill. Good-natured, funny, and loves the outdoors. 

MM: I would say my dad is a mix of Bill and Sam. Very adventurous and fun yet a sophisticated businessman who cares deeply for his family. 

What number are you personally most excited to perform? 

JC: So many of them! But the song I connect with the most is “The Winner Takes It All “ 

MM: They are all amazing, but as I start the show with “Honey Honey” I have a ‘pinch me moment’ that I am playing my childhood dream role. 

We don’t want to spoil the ending BUT in the finale, our two main characters leave to embark on very different adventures. One choosing to remain on the remote island of Kalokairi and live their life in married bliss. The other choosing to forgo marriage in favour of travel and adventure. Which do you think you’d choose? 

JC: I think a little of both is a great option!

MM: I think I would be in favour of travel and adventure with my boyfriend and friends. A good mix of both!