At last, here is Mamma Mia!

We’ve feasted on the movie version that starred Meryl Streep. It is time now to find out what the original Mamma Mia! musical is like. The romantic comedy featuring the hits of ABBA has been seen by over 50 million people all over the world since it opened on April 6, 1999 in London’s West End. It has been running on Broadway for 10 years and played in over 300 major cities worldwide. Box-office gross as of this writing is over $2B. The international tour of the famous musical is now coming to Manila on a limited run at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Jan. 24.

Set in a Greek island paradise, Mamma Mia! tells the story of a daughter’s quest for the identity of her father that culminates on the eve of her wedding. There are three prospects that her mother has kept secret from her for 20 years. Thanks to an old diary, she brings these three men together to the island where they once more meet her once carefree mother.

It is a good, entertaining plot but what makes Mamma Mia! such a joyous musical is the music of ABBA.

ABBA is the Swedish quartet made up of Anni-Frid Lynstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Anderson and Agnetha Faltskog, which exploded into the international music scene in 1974. It was the first non-English speaking act to top the hit charts of the world and was fondly dubbed as Sweden’s biggest-selling export. ABBA made a lot of hits over the next decade and 22 of these songs landed in the Mamma Mia! soundtrack.

Honey Honey, Thank You For The Music, Money Money Money, Mamma Mia, Chiquitita, Dancing Queen, Lay All Your Love On Me, Super Trouper, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), The Name Of The Game, Voulez-Vous,Under Attack, One Of Us, SOS, Does Your Mother Know, Knowing Me Knowing You, Our Last Summer, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Winner Takes It All, Take A Chance On Me, I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do and I Have A Dream.

I do not recall if When All Is Said And Done, which Pierce Brosnan sang in the movie version is included in the musical. It should have been as it provides a sweet, quiet moment. Likewise, the very popular Fernando. They should have found a way to bring the song in like name one of the guys Fernando to justify the song. Of course, Waterloo, the first ABBA hit that won the young group the Grand Prix at the Eurovision Song Festival ages ago is not in the musical. Unless you count the songs in that concert ending that gets the audience dancing like mad to memories of the ’70s.

Do you think they will do the same at the usually staid CCP? It would be huge fun if this happens. It will feel like a big celebration after having a grand time watching Mamma Mia! and recalling the happy music of the ’70s. So time now to get ready. Get those bell-bottom trousers out. Also the platform shoes. The Elvis jumpsuits. And not to forget, those feather boas. Mamma Mia! with the songs of ABBA is coming to town.

Mamma Mia! is a wonderful choice to kick start local musical theater into another great year. Last 2011 was a very good one and as I take a look at the titles that have been announced, I have a feeling that 2012 might be even better.

Here are some of those we might get to see: A repeat of In The Heights with Ima Castro and Nyoy Volante; Jekyll and Hyde, which includes the beautiful song This Is The Moment; Rock Of Ages with Broadway’s Migs Ayesa in the lead and songs like Don’t Stop Believing; Nine, starring Jett Pangan and nine beautiful actresses; Disney’s Camp Rock based on the famous TV movie; and Shrek based on what else but the irreverent animated feature film.

I hope there will be more from PETA and Bulwagang Gantimpala and hopefully a Filipino musical or opera. Lots of people are asking about a Noli repeat. So maybe the Bulwagan can bring back the Cayabyab-Lumbera musical with last year’s cast led by Cris Villonco and Mark Bautista. That would be great.

But before all those shows happen, there is Mamma Mia! which runs from Jan. 24 to Feb. 12. Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld outlets and at the CCP box office. A bit pricey at P7,000; P5,500; P5,000; P4,500; P4,000; P3,500; P3,000; P2,500; P2,000; P1,500; P1,000; and P750 but it will be first-rate entertainment.