Two residents of Oranjezicht and Mouille Point are part of the new look production of Mamma Mia! being staged at the Artscape Opera House until Sunday April 7.
The cast, crew, and band are entirely South African, and the three leading actresses from the 2010 show are back in this show: Gina Shmuckler, Ilse Klink, and Kate Normington return as Donna, Rosie, and Tanya, respectively.
“I was surprised and excited to be included in this show as I had to audition like everyone else, so it’s exciting, I’m excited about being part of this and with the ladies that did the show so many years ago,” said Normington, 58, who is from Johannesburg but now lives in Oranjezicht.
“It’s been hard work but so much fun to be part of this, the young actors are just phenomenal and being around them is so refreshing, their energy is contagious. They sing beautifully and they can dance too, they are so talented, they are exceptional and I know all of them are going to go on to do big things so I’m really excited to be part of this cast,” she said.
After five weeks of rehearsals, Normington said the audience can expect a show fuelled by Abba songs such as Knowing Me, Knowing You, Dancing Queen, I Have a Dream, and Voulez Vous.
“The music of Abba just makes you want to move and what we do on stage will excite you so I’m looking forward to it, it’s vibey and you will want to dance,” she said.
Tannah Levick, 23, from Mouille Point, is part of the ensemble.
She said Mamma Mia! was the first theatre show she saw and she is excited and proud to be on the stage with Gina Shmuckler, Ilse Klink, and Kate Normington.
“I didn’t expect rehearsals to be so much fun, it’s been amazing, I have a few friends from college with me as part of the ensemble. It’s such an incredible team and I’m working with Carmen Pretorius and Gina (Shmukler) and they are all just so incredible.
“It’s like having an acting master class everyday and I feel like I need a notebook to write down everything because I’ve learnt so much from them. I cannot wait for people to come watch it because Mamma Mia! is such a popular movie, it’s a popular show and lots of my friends have had parties with a Mamma Mia-theme, so I’m incredibly excited about it,” she said.
Hazel Feldman, one of the producers of Mamma Mia! said the process of obtaining the rights to bring the play to Cape Town began more than a year ago.
“It’s a terrific cast with a nice blend of experience and youth. We have experienced actors like Ilse, Kate and Gina and then we have brilliant young performers who are all just getting along great. Watching the rehearsals I can say that the people will thoroughly enjoy this show.”
The story takes place on a Greek island. On the evening of her wedding, daughter and bride-to-be Sophie invites three men from her mother’s past back to the island they visited 20 years ago in the hope of discovering which one is her father.
Tickets cost from R200. Book through www.showtime.co.za or Ticketmaster. There are discounts on Tuesdays; for groups of more than 20; and for school student groups via sales@showtime.co.za or call Jill Somers during office hours from 9am to 5pm, on 079 218 1658.
