Reviewer: Dale Anninos-Carter
What: The ABBA Show
Where: Thebarton Theatre
Genre: Music/Theatre
Duration: 2+ hours
Mamma Mia – what a show! This has got to be one of the most vibrant theatrical performances in the business.
The Thebarton Theatre itself makes you feel like you’ve gone back a number of decades in time, and with the addition of The ABBA Show, you will feel like you’ve been sucked into a time machine.
As the show begins, you’ll be greeted with When I Kissed The Teacher in true ABBA style complete with knee-high white boots, replica costumes and wigs. And that’s when you’ll realise this is no ordinary tribute show.
‘Bjorn, Frida, Benny and Agnetha’ are accompanied on stage by a live band – forget sound tracks, there’s even a saxophone in full swing, along with a white piano which SWIVELS! The impeccable sounds produced by the singers and band alike will have you questioning whether they are all miming. The voices of ‘Agnetha’ and ‘Frida’ are extremely similar to those of the real deal, making for a perfect reenactment. On top of that, the four performers put on Swedish accents, which I’m not sure is more comedic or serious, but the crowd was loving it.
Expect five outfit changes during the show, which again are replica costumes complete with diamantés, flares and silk. The bedazzled outfits live-out their glory days following impersonated dance moves from real ABBA shows – I am honestly so impressed by the high level of energy cast by Agnetha and Frida with the constant dancing whilst signing. Girl power!
Now bedazzled costumes need a platform upon which they can shine, that’s where the giant freakin’ disco ball illuminating the entire theatre comes in handy. I was mesmerised…and kinda felt like I was hallucinating at the same time from the sheer vibrantly beautiful patterns being strewn across the theatre. Which brings me to one of the focal points of the show – the lighting design. Never have I see such a dazzling, dynamic array of radiant beams of light. Every shade of the rainbow is cast across theatre in a messy, but satisfying display of the 70’s.
As the crowd is invited to stand and dance in the aisles, it becomes a night of twistin’ and shoutin’. You’ll dance with your seated neighbours and rock out to classics with the young, the old, and the in between.
Alas, the night must come to an end, as The ABBA Show seeks a man after midnight from the crowd. As the lights dim, the performers sing ‘thank you ABBA for the music, for bringing it to me’, which has the crowd sayin’ “aawwwh” – a rollercoaster of emotions, if you will. There is no doubt in my mind that you will leave the show feeling utterly impressed and in the mood to go out to town, have a boogie and dance in the streets – rain or sunshine. ABBAsolutely no regrets attending this show – I would recommend it to everyone and I would 100% go again. Thank you The ABBA Show for the music, and taking me back to the era in which I wish I was born.
