I have found a few comments on the Spanish production of Mamma Mia! on the Telecinco webstite (Telecinco is Channel 5, a private Spanish TV station).
At http://www.informativos.telecinco.es/dn_18884.htm you can find yet another article about the musical, including a summary of the story or an overview of the plot, and nothing else that I did not mention in my previous message I sent to ABBAMAIL.
The article also quotes Björn, who says (once again) that ABBA will not reunite, and that not even the former ABBA members can explain the perennial success of ABBA's music so many years after the group split up. "We only wrote songs hoping that they would become hits, but we never expected or anticipated what has happened."
Concerning the musical itself and the main performers, this is what the article says (I have omitted the bits where they refer to the story taking place on and everything that has been repeated ad nauseum before).
"The protagonist is Nina [a well-known Spanish singer - JC's note], who is able to show off her whole vocal range - reaching lower notes mainly during the first part of the show, and higher ones during the second half."
...snipped: summary of the plot...
"Mariona Castillo plays the daughter. She is a young actress and singer whose voice is somehow evocative of those of Agnetha and Frida. Her character is desperate to find out which of her mother's former lovers is her father."
...snipped: more info on the plot...
This is not the first time that the songs of this legendary group are sung in Spanish. Some were recorded in Spanish by [ABBA] themselves. Björn says, "Spanish is a language I love and the only one in which we ever recorded - except for English."
[Has Björn's memory gotten even worse? - JC's note]
"Mamma Mía!", which premiered worldwide in London on April 6, 1999 started taking shape towards the late 80s [...] and was gradually developed by writer Catherine Johnson, respecting the lyrics and melodies of 100 ABBA songs, 25 of which were eventually chosen."
At the age 59, Björn states that he would not be able to write songs like the old ones. "I am not at that moment in my life. At that time, we felt that we stood for pop in the whole sense of the word. A pop writer/composer has a limited productive span of about 10 years; then there is a period of decline, and you need to revitalize yourself."
Benny Anderson has actively cooperated with him on this musical, while Frida has financed some of the productions. Agnetha, who released a solo album earlier this year, has no connection with this project.
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Some comments from people who attended:
The play is incredible; I had never seen something like this before. I am sure it will play here in Madrid for over a year. Nobody should miss it! You'll never feel [this good] and laugh like you'll do here. Go with friends!!
-Anonymous -
I saw the musical yesterday, and it is exceptional, wonderful. Everybody deserves a "10".
- Luis -
No one has said anything about the orchestra. It sounds terrific and the show wouldn't be like this without it.
- A friend -
I have already seen the show at the Lope de Vega theatre and it is fantastic. I really recommend it. Nobody can miss it.
- Carmen, from Madrid -
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That's all as far as the article is concerned.
Also, a Spanish fan has let me know that both Frida and Björn signed autographs and attended the after-show party for the cast, producers and everyone else involved in the production. Frida left at about 1:30 in the morning. According to this fan, Frida looked fantastic and she told her so while she signed an autograph for her. To her surprise, Frida looked her in the eyes and thanked her sweetly with a calm, serene expression on her face.
Björn left the party at 2 o'clock. This fan was sure that he would have stayed longer had Lena not "dragged" him by the arm in repeated attempts to make it clear to him that it was time to leave in spite of fans who still wanted to get autographs or pictures taken with him.
Thanks to ABBAMAILer Juan Carlos Laye, Montevideo, Uruguay
