A wealth of beloved ABBA songs, incredible sets and props, and a dedicated cast and crew. The Terra Linda theater department’s production of “Mamma Mia” truly took the audience on a two-hour vacation to a Greek island getaway. It follows the story of 20-year-old Sophie before her wedding who invites three of her mother, Donna’s past lovers in hopes of discovering which one of them is her father. Donna must grapple with rekindled feelings while Sophie tries to piece together the answers.
Terra Linda senior Ashley Fenical and junior Hannah Hodgson played the lead roles of Sophie and Donna respectively and brought loveable qualities to the mother-and-daughter duo. Each of their performances were awe-inspiring; Fenical’s angelic voice was a standout in each of the songs, remaining steady and hitting higher notes with seeming ease, and was perfectly complemented by Hodgson’s powerful vocal ability.
Fenical, who is passionate about singing, reflected that one of the most impactful parts of being in the show was being able to step outside of her comfort zone. She characterizes the play as, “..a good experience to feel more confident on stage and in the spotlight.” She further described work on the musical as “a nice escape” and a way to spend time with her peers in a fun environment.
Hodgson shared similar feelings. She stated that the role of Donna was far beyond what she is typically comfortable with and that further honing her singing skills has been incredibly rewarding. She previously had a connection to the show. She said, “I grew up with this show and I grew up with ABBA…so to be able to see it coming together and to be able to be a part of it is just so magical.”
Senior Ronan Fleming took on the task of assistant directing the show, working closely with director and Drama teacher, Alex Pryor to plan blocking and ensure that everything came together. Fleming mentioned how there are “a lot of moving parts” that go into the production behind the scenes and he was in the unique position to have a hand in all of them. “I get to see as everything comes together in a way you wouldn’t if you were…doing a very specific job,” Fleming explained. He enjoyed being able to contribute his ideas and watch them end up a part of the show.
As stage manager, senior Riley Cochran had the responsibility of working with each tech department behind the scenes. A large part of their role was teaching people how to carry out different tasks to make sure the show ran smoothly. And run smoothly it did, with a visually pleasing set, beautiful costumes that were changed fluidly between scenes, and well-orchestrated lighting and music throughout. “So what I’m taking away from this show is how to teach people, how to make sure all of the bases are covered, and…the organization of teaching,” Cochran concluded.
With all of the incredible effort put in by those both on and off the stage, it is clear that this year’s musical is one for the books! This story of love, family, and growing up was executed beautifully and truly brought to life through the songs, the dance numbers, and the immense talent of all those who played a part in the production.