Can't have enough of Mamma Mia!

MANILA, Philippines — Yes, here (we) go again. Mamma Mia!, the musical sensation inspired by the timeless songs of the Swedish pop group ABBA, is back in Manila. The international production was first brought to the country by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila in 2012. 

Now playing at The Theatre of Solaire until Oct. 21, the long-running jukebox musical is a tale of love, friendship and family situated in a Greek island. Setting the story in motion is newly-engaged Sophie’s quest to find the father she has never known, consequently, bringing her mother Donna face-to-face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of Sophie’s wedding. Scottish actress Shona White and British actress Lucy May Barker portray mother and daughter, respectively.

Talk about life imitating art but there’s a real engagement in this international tour production of Mamma Mia, which debuted on West End in 1999. Lucy and Phillip Ryan, who plays her leading man Sky, fell in love in the UK tour of Mamma Mia! three years ago — and they’ve been engaged to marry since July.    

“We are engaged in real life as well as on stage. That could be definitely a way we could relate (to our characters),” revealed the British actress while seated next to Phillip in an interview before the gala night last Tuesday. 

“Especially the fact that at the end of the show, when Sophie and Sky are about to go and travel the world, that is super exciting for us because it’s true. We are on an insatiable tour to all these amazing places and we’re not going home (in) between, we’re just staying out and traveling to see as much of the world as we can while we have the opportunity. So, that bit of the show is particularly exciting. No acting required.”

According to Phillip, they first met during the UK tour’s final audition in October 2014. They didn’t, however, click right away. “I was like, oh who’s this guy who’s not too sure, and (he was) a bit like, who’s this girl who’s not too sure (laughs),” shared Lucy.

The romance was like a slow burn, happening gradually because they were initially focused on their job.

“I think, at first, all you’re thinking is about the show and all you’re thinking about (is) what I’m doing, what’s my journey, I need to get my lines and songs learned. And then it goes from rehearsals, to being in front of a live audience, you get the tech sorted, the costumes, the lights,” explained Phillip.

“Then once we relaxed,” they noted, that’s when they started to get to know each other more.  

British actors Lucy May Barker and Phillip Ryan play main characters Sophie and Sky, respectively, in the jukebox musical. They are also engaged in real life.

“Then a couple of years down the line…” Lucy said.

“I put a ring on it,” said Phillip.

When asked if there’s an ABBA song that could best describe their love story, both agreed on “probably, the one we do every single night” which is Lay All Your Love On Me.

Based on their banter during the media interviews, there are apparently more positives to being in a relationship with someone from the same field or workplace. “Because we met on the job as well, that’s kind of all we’ve known, to fit in… it’s so nice at work. Obviously, there are days at work when I get a bit of a sore throat, it’s a bit harder to do when I’m under the weather, we kind of need to dig deep and it’s so amazing to have my other half to support me like right there,” said Lucy. 

For Phillip, being co-workers with Lucy is not something that he has given much thought. “I just do my job.”

He continued, “At the moment, we’ve been together 24/7 ever since,” then turning to Lucy, “What I really find funny — you have a bigger responsibility being No. 2 (next to Shona White’s Donna) in the show. You do a lot more whereas I spend a lot of time offstage. But when I am onstage, it’s only whenever I’m with you. Everything I do in my life is with you.”

“You like it that way, right?” joked Lucy. 

“Yeah!” Phillip was quick to reply.

“Okay, good!” Lucy said, drawing laughter.

One of Lucy’s favorite moments in Mamma Mia, by the way, is (spoiler alert!) the wedding scene.

“You (Lucy) cried the first time you walked in that aisle,” revealed Phillip.

She recalled, “The first time I walked that aisle after Phillip proposed to me, when Sophie walks down the aisle, pretty much everyone was crying, ‘Oh my God, it’s real life.’ That was really fun. I’ve worn wedding dresses before but it was quite special putting the wedding dress on. And I put the wedding dress on the first time on stage with the Slipping Through My Fingers scene. So, that was quite special knowing that I was going to have to wear one in real life (laughs).”

Indeed, the show holds a very special meaning for this acting couple on stage and off it. “I think it’s just funny when you’ve properly thought about your time (in Mamma Mia!), what it has been for us, in our life, what it’s done for us, it will always be like, we’re going to work on other shows, on other things, (but) the fond memories, this will probably hold for us. It never leaves you,” said Phillip. 

And just like Mamma Mia’s central theme of family love, the show, he further said, is “a family and that’s what I love. It is always such a beautiful group of people and always cast so well. I’ve got my friends in the show... and also, I have a fiancée.”

Also featured in the main cast of Mamma Mia! the international tour are Nicky Swift, Helen Anker, Tamlyn Henderson, Daniel Crowder and Matthew Rutherford, among others.

For tickets, log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999.