There’s no question that Mamma Mia! is one of the most beloved musicals of all time, and over its years of success has accumulated a loyal fan base. Featuring the tunes of disco-pop group ABBA, spectacular dance moves, and a classic love story, the play attracts all kinds of viewers. The popular production ran on Broadway for fourteen years, and was made into a film adaptation which spawned an equally successful sequel that was released just last year. Putting on a strong performance of such a famous show is no easy feat, as it requires the execution of complicated dance numbers and difficult solos galore.  However, Sock ‘n’ Buskin was able to do the jukebox musical justice; their rendition of Mamma Mia!, which took place on the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st of March, went above and beyond all expectations.

Mamma Mia! transports the audience to the fictional greek island of Kalokairi, where Sophie (freshman Malia McLellan), a young girl on the search for her true father, resides.  The daughter of single mom and hotelier Donna (senior Maggie Solimine), Sophie has grown up not knowing the identity of her true father, due to her mother’s wild-child antics during the 70s. Sophie is about to be married to leading man Sky (junior Jack Finegan) and wishes that her father could be there to give her away at her fairy-tale wedding. After finding Donna’s diary from the year she was pregnant, Sophie reads about three possible fathers: architect Sam Carmichael (senior Sam Rodd), stuffy British banker Harry Bright (senior Jack Hopkins), and adventurer Bill Austin (junior Charlie Pedorella). Sophie sneakily sends out invites under her mother’s name to all three men, and when they accept and show up on the island, drama ensues.

Mamma Mia! showcased the talents of freshman Malia McLellan as Sophie. Despite being such a young performer, McLellan took the stage with the confidence of a veteran and blew away audiences as she transformed into the sweet bride-to-be who is relentlessly tries to define her identity through her parentage. Senior Maggie Solimine crushed the challenging role of Donna, the settled-down free-spirit trying to keep her old Greek taverna from falling apart in the midst of her only daughter’s wedding. Solimine’s performance was breathtaking, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as she belted out the heartbreaking anthem “The Winner Takes it All.” All four male leads also did a fantastic job as they each stepped into the spotlight to shed light on their characters.  Senior Sam Rodd as Sam knocked “Knowing Me, Knowing You” out of ballpark, junior Charlie Pedorella as Bill had spectacular duets with both his daughter and his potential new love interest, and Jack Hopkins brought heart as well as humor to Harry.  Junior Jack Finegan brought both gravity and fun to his portrayal of Sky.

While all actors and actresses put on a great show, there were a few particular fan favorites who had the crowd in stitches from start to finish. Among these characters was Rosie, one of Donna’s best friends and former bandmates, played by senior Athena Woodfin. Woodfin’s performance was hysterical, with a refreshing take on this crotchety, yet down to earth, spinster. Another fan favorite was Tanya, another one of Donna’s former bandmates and closest confidantes. Junior Meredith Heller was a riot as she took on the role of this three time-divorcee and diva. One of the hotel workers, Pepper, played by junior Lance Brady, was also popular.  In Does Your Mother Know, Brady had audiences in hilarious uproar as he lovingly chased after Tanya, even though she’s old enough to be his own mother. The play also boasted a large ensemble, imperative due to its copious dance numbers. Members of the ensemble put on a fantastic spectacle as they boogied to show tunes while fully decked out in glittery outfits reminiscent of the disco era.

On a side note, in addition to the joyous spectacle of the performance, Sock ‘n’ Buskin also raised money through donations for a scholarship created in honor of David Pentz, the beloved longtime lighting designer for Sock ‘n’ Buskin, who passed away this past December.

Overall, the musical was a huge success, attracting an immense audience, making people of all ages sing along to familiar, catchy songs, and leaving all in awe of the talent of the Pelican performers.