Why Mamma Mia! made Lea cry

When my friend Raoul Tidalgo, who was then with the New York-based The Filipino Reporter, and I watched Mamma Mia! on Broadway a few years ago, we couldn’t resist rising from our seats and, along with the SRO audience, dancing to the beat of Dancing Queen, probably the most popular ABBA song featured on the musical (the movie version of which star Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan), toward the end even as we gave the cast a prolonged standing ovation.

I heard that the audience at the CCP Main Theater where the musicale is on extended run until Feb. 19 is somewhat too shy to dance (only a few do), even if it’s more fun to cap the night that way.

I’m not sure if Lea Salonga danced during the gala night Thursday last week, Jan. 26, but my friend Dr. Lily Lim told me that Lea cried over one of the scenes. “I was touched,” said Dr. Lily who was seated behind Lea.

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos and Francis Lumen

I texted Lea why she cried and she texted back, “When Donna was preparing Sophie for the wedding, I moved forward in time to when that’ll be me helping my own daughter Nicole prepare for that day, or for another big life occasion. I lost it.”

Mamma Mia! is, as if you didn’t know by now, a tale that unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest for the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The musical is enlivened by the songs of ABBA, also including such enduring hits as Take A Chance On Me, Chiquitita, The Winner Takes It All and Money Money Money.

The gala night, graced by the glitterati, was supported by Smart Infinity Business Group Department head Julie Carcellier, Smart Infinity Marketing Services & Support Operations manager Ruth Taal, Citibank’s Country Officer Sanjiv Vohra and Consumer Markets head Sergio Zanatti.

Above, from left: Borgy Manotoc, Georgina Wilson, Arnel Pineda, Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto-Valdes

Besides Lea, among the other celebrities present were ABS-CBN big bosses Gabby Lopez and Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN exec Cory Vidanes, Solar Entertainment boss Wilson Tieng, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, Johnny Litton, Tessa Prieto-Valdez, Tim Yap, Daphne Oseña-Paez with her kids, KC Concepcion, Diether Ocampo, Agot Isidro, Jed Madela, Georgina Wilson, Borgy Manotoc, Arnel Pineda and 2011 Miss World first runner-up Gwendoline Ruais.

The original production of Mamma Mia! opened in 1999 on Broadway and later transferred to London’s West End. It has been translated into 14 languages and is the first-ever global musical to open in Chinese. The CCP run is presented by Infinity, Smart and Citibank, together with Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Hi Definition Radio and Concertus Manila.

(Weekly rates are P750, P1,500, P3,000, P4,000, P5,000 and P6,000. Weekend rates are P1,000, P2,000, P3,500, P5,000, P6,000 and P7,000. Groups of 20 or more can get a 10 percent discount and senior citizens 20 percent discount. Call Ticketworld at 891-9999.)

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