Last night Mrs MJ and I went out to the Crown Theatre in Perth to get a dose of some musical theatre and see...

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia is the stage production version of the movie, or the other way round... I don't know... Can you tell I'm really into this? When it comes to ABBA, I'm not really a Super Trouper. I can tolerate them (I grew up listening to them - my Mum loved their music), and may tap my foot to their if I'm in the mood, or unconscious. Combine them into a musical theatre production and, well.... if it's not mildly entertaining I'll be sending out an S.O.S!!

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To be honest, I'm not a huge fan (or a small hand-held fan for that matter) of musical theatre, but I go once in a while, in the hopes of watching something that I'll more than mildly enjoy. I prefer live concerts. Mrs MJ loves the theatre, so happy wife = happy life... It's a small price to pay ( actually, it did cost quite a bit of Money, Money Money!!), and something I enjoy treating her to because she knows how much I looooove it!!! She appreciates the sacrifice I make...

We weren't allowed to photograph or record any part of the production, but I did manage to get a couple of pictures of the stage set before and after the show...

With 22 of ABBA's greatest hits interwoven through a story of a young lad abut to get married, and inviting 3 of her mother's ex-lovers to the wedding in the hopes of finding out which one is her father, Mamma Mia had a few moments of enjoyment for me, but overall I felt it was a bit staged and too clinical in its precision and choreography. Parts of it just weren't natural or convincing enough for me, and there seemed to be a disjoin between the music and the vocals in some places. There was just something missing, I'm not sure what. Probably me just being too critical!

Don't get me wrong, the production and actors were all very good, and they sang and danced and interacted very well. There were some really entertaining and stand-out moments during the show, and I did find myself enjoying some scenes. The songs did blend in well with the story line. It wasn't bad; it just wasn't the best show I've seen. Mrs MJ enjoyed it a lot more than me, and that was much more important than what I thought of the show. The tickets to the show were one of her Christmas gifts from me, so the wait better have been worth it!!!

When All is Said and Done, it was a pleasant night out, and a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and basketball, which goes On and On and On 7 days a week. I guess that's just The Name of The Game!!

Mrs MJ is keen to go to Aladdin next... What a magic carpet ride that'll be!!! Mamma Mia!! We may just go to a football game instead.....