We all know ABBA and the Mamma Mia! musical—impossible to ignore, and nothing in the world can stop your body from bouncing along. I’m mean it’s music by Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus, you could try to resist, but why would you ruin your evening like that? The new Polish version is fun, sunny, and ultra-energetic—the kind of energy that could light up an entire skyscraper at midnight. Those dancers are insanely good, and I don’t say this often, but the choreography by Karolina Rejnus literally knocked the breath out of me—in the best, most glamorous way, like a feather boa slapping you with joy. If I’d seen this as a little girl, I would have begged to become a dancer!
Combined with Dorota Sabak-Ciołkosz’s fabulous costumes and makeup and Grzegorz
Polciński’s incredible set design, the show whisks you into a world that’s impossibly uplifting. By the time you leave the theater, you feel at least ten pounds lighter—and maybe a little happier too.
The show is an explosion of dynamism: Jakub Szydłowski ensures that boredom doesn’t stand a chance. The set flips faster than a pancake on Sunday morning, zipping through space and time (yes, even a detour to ancient Greece!), the dancers explode like confetti cannons, voices soar like fireworks, and the story hits every note with perfect timing. It’s pure entertainment, stronger than your first espresso of the day.
I love that the performers work together, not just as individuals. Their chemistry is
essential: Sophie’s vulnerability is her secret weapon, somehow cutting deeper than any sword (character played by Kamila Najduk). Sky (Wojciech Kurcjusz) is candy-coated joy, Donna (Karolina Trębacz) instantly makes you smile and shiver when she sings, Tanay (Anna Andrzejewska) and Rosie (Małgorzata Regent) are unstoppable — you’ll laugh and applaud just because you can’t help it. I want those aunties in my life! A little chaos, a little wisdom, a lot of heart—and the kind of energy that can make even Mondays dance. The trio of dads—Sam (Rafał Drozd), Bill (Jacek Lenartowicz), and Harry (Klaudiusz Kaufmann)—is so distinct, yet together they form a perfect blend of flavors that somehow combine into the perfect recipe for jumble and charm.
Beyond what you see—the costumes, the set, the exquisite choreography—and what you
hear—those voices!—the hidden power of this production lies in its humor. Moments of pure joy and lightness strike you like leaping onto a cloud and soaring. It’s the musical we all need, especially as the dark, cold days of winter approach. And sometimes, all you really need in life is a bunch of boys in swimsuits and flippers, dancing in perfect sync on the pier—and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Photo: M. Matuszak
Reader Reviews
