Cappies Review: 'Mamma Mia' At Woodgrove High School

"Mamma Mia" was performed from March 26 to 29. The student review is based on the March 29 performance.

By Christa Anderson of Herndon High School

Disco balls, three fathers, and the tunes of ABBA can only mean one thing: Mamma Mia has arrived at Woodgrove High School.

Mamma Mia is a jukebox musical, meaning the plot was created around pre-existing songs. It follows single mother Donna, her adult daughter Sophie, and the three men that could have been Sophie's father. As Sophie's wedding looms, she invites Bill, Sam, and Harry -- her mother's former lovers -- without Donna's knowledge. Naturally, chaos ensues, and buried feelings are dragged back to the surface.

In the role of Sophie, Lauren Pyles was a standout performer with powerful yet sweet vocals that consistently hit the spot. Pyles rose to the challenge of appearing significantly younger than other high school actors with ease, affecting a higher pitched voice and animated facial expressions. Ava Welsh, who portrayed Donna, complimented this youth with a more grounded persona and heavier vocals. The pair made a convincing mother and daughter, especially in sentimental moments such as "Slipping Through My Fingers."

Another commendable performance came from Emma Edwards in the role of Rosie, one of Donna's best friends. Edwards delighted the audience with excellent comedic timing and a few well-placed innuendos. As Rosie, Edwards balanced difficult harmonies in group musical numbers in addition to delivering a strong duet performance of "Take a Chance On Me" with Jack Vosburgh.

To capture the feel of Mamma Mia's Greek island setting, the set design team headed by Daniela Vitello built a taverna inspired by genuine Greek architecture and the aesthetic of the Mamma Mia movie adaptation. Similarly, the costumes team of Rory Fricano, Nix Ochs-Thomas, Olivia Sullivan, and Madeline Rogers worked hard to create a beach-like feel in each costume. Especially praiseworthy were the "Dynamo costumes" worn by Donna, Rosie, and Tanya in "Super Trouper." These sparkly jumpsuits added significantly to the overall feel of the scene and aided greatly in storytelling.

Woodgrove's Mamma Mia was truly a disco! The performances were heartfelt, the aesthetics were beautiful, and the music had everyone tapping their feet.