“The sight of the audience waving glow sticks during the curtain call was truly moving. Even the elderly people in the front rows stood up and danced along.”
The musical Mamma Mia!, which had been halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has returned to audiences after three years. At the press preview held on the afternoon of the 29th at the Chungmu Art Center Grand Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul, actress Choi Jeong-won said, “I think this work is loved for a long time because it gives energy to middle-aged audiences and joy to younger friends,” adding, “It’s such an enjoyable production that I want to perform every day.”
Actors Shin Young-sook, Hong Ji-min, and Kim Kyung-sun are performing key scenes at the press call for the musical 'Mamma Mia!' held on the afternoon of the 29th at Chungmu Art Center in Heungin-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Mamma Mia! is a globally beloved steady-seller musical that originated in London, UK, in 1999 and has been loved for over 20 years. In Korea, since its premiere in 2004, it has continued with 1,791 performances over 19 years, attracting 2 million viewers.
The musical tells a cheerful story set in a Mediterranean Greek resort, revolving around mother Donna and her daughter Sophie. Sophie, who was raised by her mother alone, invites three of her mother’s former lovers?who might be her father?to the island before her wedding. The story unfolds with ABBA’s famous songs. The stage is adorned with hits like “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Voulez-Vous,” “I Have a Dream,” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”
On the afternoon of the 29th, at the Chungmu Art Center in Heungin-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, the cast of the musical 'Mamma Mia!' is performing key scenes during the press call. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Park Jun-myeon, who plays the role of Rosie for the second time since 2019, pointed to the music as the strength of Mamma Mia! “With a minimal stage, sophisticated costumes, and ABBA’s incredibly good music, it’s a work that can only be loved for a long time. I think Mamma Mia! is the power of music and the power of ABBA.”
Choi Jeong-won, who has participated in every season since 2007 and has appeared on stage over 1,000 times as Donna, expressed her affection by saying, “I am an actress born for Mamma Mia!.” She added, “Donna in the play is very similar to my life. The process of fighting and breaking up with the man she loves, raising her daughter?all come entirely from my own experiences,” and said, “Performing is so enjoyable that I don’t even feel tired. I could go on stage three times a day.”
Shin Young-sook, who is playing Donna for the third time this season, cited “empathy” as the secret to the musical’s long-lasting popularity. She explained, “Although it is set in Greece, it feels like something happening right next to us,” and added, “It’s a work that you can laugh, cry, and dance along with and empathize.”
The production shows subtle changes. Lee Hyun-woo, who plays Harry, mentioned, “In the past, I only had to pretend to play the guitar along with the band’s music, but this time I had to play it myself,” referring to a more detailed change. The choreography also changed somewhat. Some movements have reduced range of motion compared to before. Choi Jeong-won said with a smile, “The movement of stretching the hand forward was changed so that the knees don’t bend,” adding, “(As the performance has continued for over 20 years,) it’s probably because the actors worldwide have aged.”
This season, new cast members such as Jang Hyun-sung, Min Young-gi, Kim Jin-su, Song Il-guk, Kim Hwan-hee, and Choi Tae-i have joined the core cast including Choi Jeong-won, Shin Young-sook, Hong Ji-min, Kim Young-joo, Park Jun-myeon, and Kim Kyung-sun.
The performance runs at the Chungmu Art Center Grand Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul, until June 25.
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