Cappies Review: 'Mamma Mia!' At Clarksburg High School

By Spoorthi Nadkarni of Westfield High School

"Honey, Honey," Clarksburg High School's vibrant rendition of Mamma Mia! was definitely on the "Money, Money, Money" and delivered a unique retelling of this iconic story of sun, sea, sex, and scandal. With harmonies sweeter than Santorini honey, and dance moves sharper than the Skaros Rocks, all the audience members were "having the time of their lives.

"Mamma Mia!, written by Catherine Johnson, features a soundtrack filled with songs from the sensational Swedish Pop group ABBA's discography (composed by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson). The story takes place on a small Greek island during the late 90's and follows Sophie Sheridan and her hardworking hotelier mother, Donna Sheridan. Right before her wedding, Sophie's plan to find her father brings back three men from her mother's past and starts a domino effect that forces Donna to relive her memories and chaos ensues. Mamma Mia! debuted at the West End on April 6, 1999 and was adapted into a movie in 2008.

The ensemble, though small, were mighty and put their whole hearts into the choreography and music. They were in sync both energetically and rhythmically, which was especially evident in numbers like the fast-paced "Voulez-Vous" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"

Jeanne Lubika (Donna Sheridan) enraptured the audience with her powerful, goosebump-inducing vocals and skillful acting. Lubika took the role above and beyond, fully immersing into the dynamic arc of her character and creating incredible chemistry with her fellow castmates. Ishika Naik, who played Rosie, sent the audience into fits of laughter with an exaggerated physicality as fluid and vibrant as the water of the Aegean Sea and her sweet, strong tone. Naik's performance also complemented Olivia May's portrayal of Tanya, with May's more controlled acting choices and delightfully raspy singing voice.

Brandon Miller, who played Harry, charmed the audience with his smooth tenor voice and delicate acting and accent choices. This was in direct opposition to Eddie (Cam Agosto) and Pepper (Nikhil Naik), who were the hot comedic duo of the night, running off each other's ridiculous "bro-like" energy throughout their scenes. Josie Escario's version of Sky added a laid back, boyish charm helped foster that whimsical sense of young love between Sky and Sophie, especially present in numbers like "Lay All Your Love on Me."

The technical aspects of this show helped to further transport the audience to the glimmering fictional island of Kalokairi with the rotating sets (Rachel Mayo, Lillian Dejesus, Esther Peterson, Maddie McClure) that were extravagant and realistic, proving that the crew were "masters of the scene" in combination with the unique lighting choices to make an interesting take on scenery (Anthony Sanchez and Tobi Oyeneyin). The stage crew, composed of Lillian Dejesus, Esther Peterson, and Maddie McClure, were barely noticeable and executed seamless set changes. The costumes, done by Riya Shah, Debika Biswas, and Danielle Smith, were very reflective of each character, from Sophie's youthful blouses and dresses to Sam and Tanya's mature suits, Rosie's island flair, and more.

"So, I say thank you for the music" for Clarksburg High School's vivacious version of Mamma Mia! and for taking the audience on a nostalgic Greek adventure where everyone ended up "smiling, having fun, and feeling like a number one."