FRIDA & MARIE

1992 - Frida and Marie from Roxette duet on "What a Wonderful World"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dionne Kennedy, UK

REMEMBERING A FAB VERSION OF JUST LIKE THAT

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jan Bach, Copenhagen, Denmark and ABBAMAILer Richard Simcock who was the lead singer of "The Webb"

COLIN FIRTH INTERVIEW

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/newsfeed/2008/02/22/
thr-accidental-heart-throb-86908-20327274/


I Never Wanted To Be A Sex Symbol, Claims Colin Firth
By Siobhan Synnot

ROM-COM king Colin Firth is used to being lusted over by women of all ages. The star of Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice is on his way to hitting 50 but still causes flutters in the hearts of women from 18 to ...well, quite a bit older.

Colin grinned: "I actually find I'm increasingly lusted after by people beyond pensionable age."

It was never his intention to be a pin-up king at the age of 47. But shy Colin only has himself to blame.

"It's so utterly bizarre to think of myself as a sex symbol at this age. I have no objection to being, what Americans call, 'a hottie' but it certainly isn't what I'm going for at this stage of my career," he laughed.

"I guess if it had to happen, now isn't a bad time. When I was first starting, it would have been confusing. I would have had a very distorted image of myself and my power as an actor.

"And I would have spent the rest of my life wondering why no one was thinking of me as sexy anymore!"

But he's now worried that even his most genteel romantic antics could be dangerous for the health of his older fans.

Colin recalled: "I was told the story of a woman in hospital diagnosed with high blood pressure, who was told not to watch any more Pride & Prejudice. She was 103."

Colin's fans may want to get a medical check before his new movie, The Accidental Husband, goes on release. Clad in fabulous designer suits, the movie has Colin competing for the affections of Uma Thurman.

He plays a straight-laced publisher who does all the right things - buys flowers, books romantic dinners and takes an interest in interior design.

And yet Uma is also drawn to a rough-and-ready fireman (Grey's Anatomy star Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who claims to have accidentally married her by computer error.

"Uma handpicked us," according to Colin, who admits he would love to have spent more time working with his glam co-star when they were filming in New York.

"It was fantastic. I only had about two weeks on this film and I left wishing it was longer."

The pair were reunited last week for the UK premiere in aid of The Fire Service Benevolent Fund. Uma arrived in a fire engine surrounded by firemen but Colin says he was glad he had arrived in different mode of transport.

"I just thought if I arrived with firemen there might be something a bit Village People about it," he laughed.

The actor, who stands 6ft 1in, still has a youthful head of curly brown hair but his trim frame was challenged by the fact his character in the film likes to comfort eat in times of stress.

Not that Colin found it hard to stuff his face with biscuits in front of Uma.

"I don't have trouble with eating large quantities, it's not the biggest stretch ever," he admitted.

It turns out, however, that as the film's producer, Uma made sure Colin ate only low-salt goodies - so he wouldn't bloat on camera.


"It's interesting to compare the whole American way of eating with the way we eat food," said Colin. "I've never had to think about the eating ethos of the food you're provided with here or in Scotland.

"But in New York, you get, 'do you want low sodium? Do you want wheat, no wheat?' They ask you about all your allergies. Things I'd never heard of that you can be without in your food.

"So probably it was about the healthiest two or three days of stuffing my face that I've ever experienced." The definitive Mr Darcy is a dad of three - the eldest is William, 16, from his relationship with actress Meg Tilly.

The younger children - Luca, six, and Mateo, four - are from his marriage to Italian producer Livia Giuggioli, who he met on the set of Nostromo in 1996 and married a year later.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man possessed of tight white breeches and riding boots will have a big impact on the female population. And Colin has been a sought-after hero ever since Pride&Prejudice, from Bridget Jones to the Accidental Husband.

But for his next movie, sexy Colin has swapped his famous Mr Darcy gear of shirt and breeches for tiny trunks to star in the film version of Mamma Mia! - featuring a string of ABBA hits - which he filmed on the Greek isle of Skopelos last year.

"Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Julie Walters are in it - all in spandex," said Colin, who seems to be asking fans to take a chance on another side of him - as a singer.

He plays a geeky businessman who might be the father of Meryl Streep's grown-up daughter.

Like Meryl and Pierce, Colin gamely has a go at some of ABBA's greatest hits, including Winner Takes It All and Voulez-Vous.

But Colin admitted he was no fan of ABBA when they were at their height, preferring folk rockers such as Gram Parsons.

"Like most boys, it wasn't my thing. I was 14 in 1974 and fancied girls to death," he said.

But he admits he always loved music. In his teens, he grew his hair, pierced one ear and joined "a not terribly good band" doing Doors' covers.

Colin may be nobody's idea of Jim Morrison but music has always been a huge part of his life. His vinyl collection still takes up shelves in his home, with albums dating back to an early love of glam rock when he was eight.

"I had a bizarre man-crush on Marc Bolan," confessed Colin. "Then I discovered things like blues and American slave music. In terms of modern music, my sensibilities are very much to do with American music really."

While he's often cast as the very image of the as a quintessential Englishman, Colin insists he's yet to come across such a character in real life. Even in The Accidental Husband, his slightly stiff-upper-lipped publisher is, he said, like no one he's ever met.

"The quintessential Englishman I play, I've decided doesn't exist. I play him but you don't run into him very often. Look around this room and there aren't very many Mr Darcys.

"I think he's a figment of our folklore, or film lore. It was very interesting, I was being questioned by a group of Greek journalists while I was doing Mamma Mia and they were insisting on the stereotypical Englishman.

"As if no Englishman had ever grown his hair long, played the electric guitar, pierced his ear - it had never happened. There was no Johnny Rotten, no John Lennon.

"None of those things had happened, it was only Prince Philip, who I pointed out happens to be Greek.

"So I do think there's an answer to all that. He exists in the hands of actors but not in reality."

While Colin doesn't take his romantic screen image too seriously, he's resigned to the fact that his Mr Darcy will never be forgotten.

"But I am totally unlike him," he insisted.

"He was this taciturn, dark, sexy guy and that is just not me.

"He rode horses and owned a wonderful home in Derbyshire. I ride a bike, talk a lot and do not live in luxury.

"I nearly turned it down because I could not have been more wrong for the role.

"And that one decision, had I gone ahead with it, would have changed my life."

The Accidental Husband is out on general release on February 29.

'It's so bizarre to think of myself as a sex symbol at 47. I'm increasingly being lusted after by people who are beyond pensionable age'

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, the Netherlands

ABBA'S CHRISTMAS GREETING 1978

This is ABBA on Top of the Pops in 1978 - a very brief Christmas Greeting shown on the Christmas Top of the Pops which was recorded at the time of the Mike Yarwood Christmas Show.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, Sandhurst, UK

CHART UPDATE

And here they are, Week 8: 15-22 February 2008

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson's rkester - BAO3 - down 9 to #56

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - Number Ones DVD - stable at #36

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

ABBA ASKED TO FIGHT PIRATE BAY

ABBA has been asked to fight against the pirate bay - a Swedish downloading site.


http://mashable.com/2008/02/16/pirate-bay-web-sherrif-village-people/

Giacobbi to The Pirate Bay: Village People Aren’t Enough. Can ABBA Break You?
by Kristen Nicole —


The Village People had what, one huge hit? If I were a member of the group, I’d want to get as much money for it as possible, too. Surely that’s why the Village People is so adamant about taking legal action, right? Or it could be the Hitler reference in a certain YouTube clip… but you get the point. The members of The Village People are still active in the community, and have been keeping a watchful eye on how the group’s music is being used.

When The Pirate Bay was asked by the famous Web Sheriff to take down The Village People content on behalf of the band, most expected the torrent company to comply (really?). When the Pirate Bay refused, the legal battle ensued. The man behind Web Sheriff, John Gaicobbi, has gone so far as to hire Stockholm lawyer Lars Sandberg from the firm Sodermark to work on the case, on a local level to The Pirate Bay, of course, according to Torrent Freak. And it looks like Giacobbi is pretty confident in his company’s ability to win the case against the torrent company, though The Pirate Bay has won a few battles in its own right.


So what has Giacobbi done in an attempt to ensure the success of his case against The Pirate Bay? Asked Swedish group ABBA to jump on board, in an attempt to rally public support against The Pirate Bay and its evil ways. Will it work? So far, the majority f the consumers out there are all for free content, whether its ad-supported or otherwise.

Nearly every artist from Prince to Eminem have pushed for more compensation in regards to royalties and crediting of their work, which is totally understandable, but the public cry for justice has fallen on mostly deaf ears. Will it work in Sweden, where there’s even more support for the free sharing of content? I feel like Giacobbi may have made an incorrect judgment call on this one. He shoulda just called Prince, for all that it’s worth.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Liesbeth Lobato, San Diego, California, USA

ABBA WON'T TAKE A CHANCE ON MCCAIN

"ABBA Won't Take A Chance On McCain"

http://timesonline.typepad.com/uselections/2008/02/he-battled-the.html


========================

He battled the Vietcong but now John McCain has apparently come a-cropper against
the Swedes.

The Republican candidate, who had already been banned by John Mellencamp, the American rocker, from using his hits 'Our Country' and 'Pink Houses', found out that he has few fans in Scandinavia when he tried to adopt ABBA's "Take a chance on me" as his campaign song. After running into difficulties with the Swedish supergroup, McCain lamented to reporters on board his plane that it wasn't as easy to play the song as he thought.

“It gets expensive in a big hurry and if you’re not careful you can alienate some Swedes,” he joked.“If word gets out to Stockholm that we’re using ABBA music, then
there’ll be a worsening in U.S.-Swedish relations.”

He'll just have to pray that the conservative wing of the Republican party doesn't
similarly reject his advances...

But McCain's not the only candidate whose choices of campaign song have proved
problematic:

Hillary Clinton held an online contest to choose her anthem - and proved that the democratic system has its failings when she got landed with the schmaltzy Celine Dion ballad "You and I". After a thorough panning - the Huffington Post declared it the worst campaign theme song - she ditched the Canadian songstress' tune for Big Head Todd and the Monsters' "Blue Sky".

Barack Obama likes to play DJ at his campaign events and reportedly flicks through his iPod for his favourite Stevie Wonder or Aretha Franklin tune before handing it to a junior staffer to play. But his micromanagement failed to prevent a rather unfortunate gaffe at his New Hampshire primary night rally when, convinced by the polls he was headed for victory, he cued up Stevie Wonder's "Signed, sealed, delivered." And we all know the rest.

(Obama's also picked a few unofficial campaign songs along the way: the surprise YouTube hit "I got a crush on Obama" by Obama Girl - including the catchy line "I saw you float onto the floor at the Democratic Convention 2004, I never wanted you more" - and Will.i.am's slightly more intellectual effort "Yes We Can".)

Mike Huckabee got a public dressing-down from Tom Scholtz of rock band Boston after he played their hit "More than a feeling" at campaign events. Scholtz left no one in any doubt of his feelings about Huckabee, who, he said was "the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for." Adding that he was supporting Barack Obama, Scholtz complained: "By using my song, and my band's name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mikey Lynch, Portland, Oregon, USA

RUSSIAN MAMMA MIA! 500 PERFORMANCES

"MAMMA MIA!" HAS WON "THE AUDIENCE'S LOVE" PRIZE

Russian staging of "Mamma Mia!" musical has celebrated a jubilee, having performed its 500th show on the stage of Moscow Palace of Youth (MDM). Since the day of premiere - 14 October 2006 - box-office takings have exceeded 25,000,000 US dollars.

More than 40,000 spectators attend the staging every month. "Mamma Mia!" was declared the best musical of 2006 in "Theater and Cinema" nomination at the ceremony of "Style of the Year" prize presentation. The musical also became the leader in quantity of prizes at the Second National Festival "Musical Heart of Theater", having won in five nominations.

The musical has been officially entered in the Russia's Book of Records in two categories: "the musical performed the largest quantity of times in succession - 500 shows in 457 days" and "the musical, which gathered the largest quantity of spectators in the same venue". Certificates of the records were presented to Dmitry Bogachev, the producer of Russian staging and General Director of Stage Entertainment Russia Company by Alexei Svistunov, the Editor-in-Chief of Russia's Book of Records.

The ceremony took place on stage of MDM on 29 January 2008. Björn Ulvaeus also offered his congratulations. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to attend the ceremony personally, so he passed his speech on video. He said:

"My dear friends in Russia!
During all the rich and long history of Russian theatre no musical performance was
such a success as "Mamma Mia!". I'm flattered with this fact and I'm proud that this historical event is related to ABBA. I always dreamed of staging the musical in Russia, and now my dream came true. When I think how many people we made happy - even if for a few hours - it touches me to the bottom of my heart. Nothing can give me - as a musician - much joy than the fact that the songs we wrote with Benny Andersson are still dearly loved and popular after so many years passed. I give my toast with glass of champagne to 500 shows of "Mamma Mia!" have already performed in Moscow and for many future ones!"

In the end of his speech Bjorn added in Russian:
"Many thanks! Five hundreds - it's great!"

To accomplish the evening "Tanya" from German staging and "Rosie" from Spanish one stepped on to the stage. Together with Russian "Donna" - Elena Charkviani - they sang "Dancing Queen", each in her native language.

===============

Special gratitude Peter Kulesh! It the author of translation into English language.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dmitry Shipov, Russian ABBA Fan Club

AGNETHA CRIES IN 1984

Celebrating 700 years of her home town, Jönköping, Agnetha is overwhelmed with emotion!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dionne Kennedy, Colne, UK

DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH

We think Frida would be turning in her grave after hearing this. If she were dead, that is ;-)

Come back Phil - all is forgiven!

Thanks (maybe) to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

SOS LIVE AUDIO 1975

Another rare find, another performance we thought lost forever.

ABBA live on "SOS" from Top of the Pops, September 1975 (not August as it says in the title strip). AUDIO ONLY thanks to Roy Taylor.

I know the video's rubbish, but these are the only two pictures known of this performance. Any other pictures would just be wrong I reckon.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, UK

AGNETHA SINGING IN 1984

Let's flash back to 84 to see Agnetha participating in celebrations for her hometown of Jönköping.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dionne Kennedy, Colne, UK

CHART UPDATE

And here they are for the week of 8-15 February 2008. (week 7)

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson's Orkester - BAO3 - Down 7 to #47

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - Number Ones DVD - up 1 to #36

The cover version album "ABBA GOLD" which has recently featured on the Irish charts is out of the chart this week.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

WORLD CHARTS UPDATE

And here are the charts for the week of 1-8 February 2008 (week 6)

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson's Orkester: BAO3 - up 2 to #40, and now Gold. (20,000+ shipped)

AUSTRALIA: Abba - Number Ones DVD - returns to chart at #37

CANADA: Abba - 20th Century Masters - down 36 to #110

CANADA: Abba - ABBA GOLD - down 14 to #153 (Both non-Canon)

IRELAND: Abba - ABBA GOLD - back in at #86 (The Galaxy label release - a cover band, not the real ABBA!)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

CHESS IN CONCERT CAST UPDATE

The website of the Royal Albert Hall has the news that Adam Pascal will sing the part of Freddie in Chess The Concert on 12/13 May!

The rest of the cast is superb too. Josh Groban as Anatoly, Idina Menzel as Florence and Kerry Ellis as Svetlane.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Marco Dirven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

BRAZIL CARNIVAL ENDS WITH ABBA

Brazil's carnival ended with a gay ball and ABBA (guess what song :)

Brazil's Carnival Ends With Gay Ball
http://www.sfgate.com

By ALAN CLENDENNING, Associated Press Writer

Revelers wrapped up Brazil's wild carnival bash with the popular Gala Gay ball Tuesday night on Rio de Janeiro's streets, littered with feathers and sequins after five days of partying.

Thousands of onlookers gawked as men in glittering miniskirts, evening dresses, bead-studded lingerie and feathered headdresses shimmied down a wide avenue to the sounds of ABBA's "Dancing Queen," for a party that would last until dawn Wednesday.

After a week that saw everything from a scandal over a planned Holocaust-themed float — later nixed by a judge — to a samba queen's quest to set a world record for the most plastic surgeries, revelers spent Carnival's last hours dancing the samba behind street bands.

"It is just impossible to describe it," 30-year-old Dutch bank worker Alexander Milikan said as he took a break from the festivities on Ipanema beach. "There's street parties everywhere, everyone's dancing, it's amazing."

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and pre-Easter praying and fasting for the world's largest Roman Catholic country. But most Brazilians will be glued to their televisions in the afternoon to learn the winner of the centerpiece of Rio's Carnival: the fiercely competitive Samba parade.

Early favorites included the samba "schools" Unidos de Tijuca, Grande Rio and Beija Flor, which has won four of the past five years but had its reputation marred by accusations that directors conspired to steal last year's championship by intimidating judges. An investigation yielded an inconclusive report.

"They tried to disqualify our parade in 2007, but we have shown that we have won in the most dignified manner possible," Beija Flor's director, who uses the single name Laila, told a booing crowd before the group's parade got started early Tuesday.

Jeers gave way to applause, however, as the group paraded opulent floats, ornate costumes and a topless beauty queen. Its dancers were encrusted in gold and wore masks and wings, in an allusion to ancient legends of the Amazon rain forest.

Actresses Lucy Liu and Monica Bellucci were among the international celebrities attending this year's Rio parade, and supermodel Naomi Campbell showed up for Carnival in the coastal city of Salvador.

Associated Press writer Michael Astor contributed to this report.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Liesbeth Lobato, San Diego, USA

STEPHEN FRY TALKS ABBA

Just stumbled accross a clip from some BBC 4 show, where he talks ABBA. It's short and sweet, but a nice sentiment.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Matti Crocker, Brisbane, Australia

FROM ABBA TO ANGST

From The Times

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/

Stellan Skarsgard: from ABBA to angst

After the edgy horror of WAZ, the Swedish star is having fun with Mamma Mia!

Wendy Ide

If you need evidence of Stellan Skarsgård's versatility as an actor, look no further than his forthcoming releases. The ubiquitous Swede stars in a British horror picture called WAZ, an edgy, urban tale that rummages around the very darkest corners of the human psyche and demands a bloodily literal answer to the question: what would you be prepared to suffer to save the one you love? Skarsgård's other movie is the polar opposite to WAZ's grim thrills. He plays one of three male leads (alongside Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan) in a sunny adaptation of the hugely successful Abba-themed musical Mamma Mia!

Shooting for WAZ required Skarsgård to spend around one week naked and covered in prosthetic wounds in a grotty warehouse in Northern Ireland. "It was disgusting, and it wasn't a very pleasant location either. It's better to be naked and covered in blood in the Bahamas." However, shooting Mamma Mia! involved singing, dancing and donning lurid costumes. "When we get into the spandex suits with the platform shoes, you don't know whether you want to shoot yourself or just continue to laugh. It's very funny."

Despite being Swedish, Skarsgård claims he rather missed out on ABBA the first time around. "Of course I was aware of them. The thing was to try and avoid them. But then I did the film and I realised that the music was more intricate than you think. You can listen to the songs over and over and hear new things all the time."

Skarsgård is not quite the household name that his Mamma Mia! co-stars are - along with Firth and Brosnan he plays one of three potential fathers to a girl whose uncertain paternity is solved through the medium of ABBA songs.

Meryl Streep plays her mother, good-naturedly getting into the spirit of a character who evidently sowed plenty of wild oats in her early years. Skarsgård is clearly amused by what he describes as the "top-heavy casting" of this feelgood flick, which also stars Julie Waters and Christine Baranski; and by how unexpected a film it is on his own CV. "It's not like they went, Mamma Mia! - we've obviously got to get Stellan. I have never sung before. But I had so much fun doing it."

But while his name might not ring quite so many bells with the average movie-goer, his face certainly does. That's him, peering mournfully out from behind a layer of prosthetic barnacles and seaweed as Bootstrap Bill in the second and third instalments of the Pirates of the Caribbean series; he's a show-stopping Viking warrior in the otherwise forgettable Clive Owen vehicle, King Arthur; he played Father Merrin in two Exorcist prequels and has collaborated with the Danish director Lars von Trier on three projects.

Skarsgård is an actor's actor. He's a seal of cinematic quality on a film - his presence in WAZ allows the audience a flicker of empathy for a character in a film populated by the damaged and the damned, and it brings the film a melancholy, flawed and very human soul where it might have descended into the kind of torture porn that currently blights the horror market.

In the flesh, the 56-year-old cuts a striking figure. He's well over 6ft with a growl of a voice and a dry humour. He can be lazily flirtatious, but he's also outspoken and very serious about what he perceives as the threats facing cinema, and the arts in general, in today's rapaciously consumerist society.

Skarsgård is generous with his praise for other actors: Meryl Streep's singing is "wonderful"; of his co-star in WAZ, the former rapper Ashley Walters, he says: "I fell in love with Ashley immediately. He has a fantastic future on the screen. He has a very sensual face that photographs beautifully." But a professional since his teens, he's intolerant of what he considers bad behaviour on set. Skarsgård asked one Hollywood actor - he won't say who - to explain to him how he was going to repay him for arriving 20 minutes late on to the set. "He wasn't late again," says Skarsgård with satisfaction.

Despite nearly a lifetime of experience as an actor, Skarsgård says he is still plagued by anxieties about the job. "Fear. It can be devastating. A lot of energy goes to not being afraid." Fear of what? "It's the combination of you want to do something good, and to do something good you need to have a high intensity, but at the same time be totally emotionally relaxed so you don't block yourself. There are a thousand reasons to be paralysed with fear on a stage or in front of a camera. There are very few reasons not to be afraid."

Skarsgård started out, aged 10, in amateur stage performances. He got his first professional theatre job at 13, and by 16 he had a role in a TV series. "We just had one channel in Sweden back then so you became famous immediately." His international film career was launched by his performance as Emily Watson's quadriplegic husband in von Trier's Breaking the Waves in 1996. He considers the director a close friend; they share a similarly dark sense of humour. Of von Trier's recent struggle with depression, he says, "I had hoped that Bergman's death would cheer him up a little, but no."

So what was the experience of Pirates of the Caribbean like for someone whose heart remains rooted in theatre and independent cinema? "Gore Verbinski is interested in acting, so you never felt trapped in the technicality of it all. The scariest thing was the press junket. That scared the shit out of me because that was a machine that could have supported half of Africa for a year."

To escape from the more excessive side of the film industry, Skarsgård says he lives a very normal life back in Sweden. "I do the shopping, I do the laundry. I cook. I've got a lot of kids and friends and family." He's not joking about the kids - there are six Skarsgård offspring, five boys and one very tough little girl. The two oldest boys, Alexander and Gustav, have followed their father into acting. They're both very good, reports their father, adding proudly, "and I hear also that they behave properly on the set. The only ambition I had for them was to make them nice people."

WAZ is on selected release on Feb 22; Mamma Mia! is out in July

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, the Netherlands

CHESS IN CONCERT, LONDON

CHESS IN CONCERT

Book: Tim Rice
Music: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Tim Rice

Introduced by Tim Rice with Josh Groban as The Russian and Idina Menzel as Florence.

On Monday May 12 and Tuesday May 13, 2008 at 8.00pm, there will be a spectacular concert performance of Chess, the musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA.

The story involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters' personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer.

Following the formula of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, a concept album of Chess was recorded in 1984, and generated a number of hit singles. The first theatrical version of Chess opened in London's West End in 1986 and played for three years.

Chess, is a 'cult' musical, which is hugely popular with musical theatre fans and the general public alike and was voted in the All-Time Top Ten in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the United Kingdom's "Number One Essential Musicals".

Featuring the chart successes One Night In Bangkok and I Know Him So Well.

Further artistes to be announced at a later date.

Tickets cannot be exchanged, refunded or resold.
Presented By:

Heartaches Ltd in association with JGPC and The Night of 1000 Voices

Mon, 12/5/2008
Tue, 13/5/2008

http://tickets.royalalberthall.com/

SHE DIDN'T LIKE MAMMA MIA!

Third time, 'Mamma' just isn't as charming

BY SUSAN HAUBENSTOCK

There's reason to hope the Landmark Theater will soon have new management. Under the current regime, Richmond is being treated to "Mamma Mia!" for the third time in five years.

A middling show at best, "Mamma Mia!" definitely does not hold up under multiple viewings -- unless, of course, you are a die-hard fan of ABBA, the Swedish pop group of the'70s.

Catherine Johnson crafted a plot on which she could hang 22 ABBA songs. The musical opened in London in 1999 and on Broadway in 2001, and it's still running in both places.

The story is written as an excuse to use specific ABBA songs -- they don't really advance the action; they just have the right lyrics to underscore what's going on.

Phyllida Law directed the touring production with a sense of fun, but its repetitiveness and lack of invention are enervating. There's no bit of business too gross to be overdone, or to be done over and over -- the hip thrusts, the head banging, the high fives.

If a number is funny because all the dancers are in wet suits, why not do a second number in which all the dancers are in snorkeling gear? Choreographer Anthony van Laast recycles the same dance moves ad infinitum.

As so often happens at the Landmark, the volume is earsplitting. It's like being in a restaurant without carpets or drapes -- someone thinks that if it's loud enough, people will believe they're having fun.

The set and costumes are exactly those we saw the last time around -- reasonably attractive, but nothing new.

What's good about "Mamma Mia!"? Annie Edgerton is a spitfire as Donna Sheridan, owner of a Greek island hotel and mother of Sophie, who's about to get married. Sean Allan Krill is magnetic as Sam, one of three old lovers who could be Sophie's father. Christine Sherrill and Allison Briner bring the nice alto voices needed for ABBA songs to the roles of Donna's pals and former bandmates.

You're in trouble, though, when the curtain call is better than the show.

"Mamma Mia!" saves its flashiest costumes and lighting for a couple of last-minute reprises of ABBA favorites that get audience members on their feet. But hey, they were getting ready to go home anyway. MAMMA MIA! Theater review Where: Landmark Theater, 6 N. Laurel St. When: Through Sunday Tickets: $20-$57 Info: (804) 646-4213

CHESS IN USA

Checkmate, please

"Chess" is a rare theatrical opportunity to enjoy
a) music written by former members of ABBA;
b) the romantic world of championship chess;
and c) a full bar.

The music was written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson with lyrics by Tim Rice (who has also worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber and wrote the lyrics for "A Whole New World" from Disney's "Aladdin"), and is loosely based on chessmasters Victor Korchnoi and the recently passed Bobby Fischer.

The production opens tonight at the Turtle Lane Playhouse, presented with cabaret-style table seating and food and drink. 8 p.m. $25-$27.50. Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose St., Newton. 617-244-0169. turtlelane.org

ABBA THE MOVIE IN BRISBANE

For the Brisvegans out there, or anyone interested in travelling that way, the Globe Theatre in Fortitude Valley is screening ABBA - The Movie next Friday 8 February at 7 p.m. http://www.globetheatre.com.au/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

MAMMA MIA! GERMAN TRAILER

The German Mamma Mia! trailer has arrived in movie theatres too - and on
Youtube!

German homepage: http://www.mammamia-film.de/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Germany

MAMMA MIA! PREMIERE TO BE IN LONDON

It has just been confirmed that the world premiere of Mamma Mia! will take place in London at the ODEON Theatre Leicester Square, London, UK (date to be confirmed).

The film will then have a showcase exclusive run at this theatre for a whole week before it opens in any other theatre or territory worldwide.

Thanks to ABBA fan Alex Jones, UK

MAMMA MIA! WEBSITES UPDATED

The international and UK Mamma Mia! movie websites have been updated.

The international site just has a new look (and matching downloadable wallpaper), but the UK site now has the long-promised extra features, including the competition to win a trip to the premiere in London. Still nothing firm about what date the premiere is, but "Entrants must be available to travel from 28th June 2008, till the 1 July 2008 or such other dates as are notified subject to any unforeseen changes." So far it seems to be open only to UK residents, but the competition is still "coming soon" on many of the European websites (which haven't been subject to the new look yet). The terms & conditions state that the competition is not open to residents of the USA or Canada. The UK site also has more of the Mamma Mia! soundtrack recording.

http://www.mammamiamovie.com/

http://www.mamma-mia-themovie.co.uk/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

BAND VERSUS BAND

They must be really inspired by ABBA suing their fans - ABBA tribute bands are now suing each other!

This press release was issued this morning by the Musicians Union of Australia.

Press Release.

Legal Mania Over ABBA Manias.
British ABBA Band Beats Up On Australia ABBA Band.

A visiting British ABBA tribute band is threatening to sue an Australian ABBA tribute band despite the Australian band having performed locally for several years. The British ABBA Mania touring show is claiming that the Australian ABBA Mania show is engaging in "misleading and deceptive conduct" by using the same name.

"This is ridiculous," says Terry Noone, federal secretary of the Musicians Union of Australia. "ABBA Mania has been going here in Australia for years. The British band comes in and thinks it has the right to throw legal actions around. For goodness, sake, they are ABBA cover bands. The founders of ABBA have no problem with them
using the name, yet this British band is claiming an exclusive international right to what is a copy. The situation could scarcely be more absurd."

Bob, the Manager and Bass player of the Australian ABBAMANIA, says: "…this is crazy! How can they do this?"

Noone says the British band is claiming that they will theoretically suffer "loss and damage" from the Australian version. Meanwhile, the Australian cover band is suffering actual loss and damage. Because the British ABBA Mania is sending letters to venues making legal threats, the Australian band is having its livelihood harmed. "The trouble with this sort of legal action is that if you do not have a lot of money they are hard to defend effectively. Call me overly optimistic, but perhaps Australia is a big enough country for two ABBA tribute bands."

Bob says: "…ever since the UK Abba Mania started to do TV , Radio and paper advertising and sending threatening solicitors letters to our venues, its become almost impossible for our Australian ABBAMANIA to get gigs. Most venues now would much rather avoid all the politics and usually end up buying another ABBA show that goes by any other name but ABBAMANIA. This is having a real impact on our liveliehood."

Noone says the original ABBA members are pleased to have their music performed. They are not issuing legal threats. Yet their imitators are. He notes that the Australian ABBA Mania has a well established "Myspace" web site (www.myspace.com/abbamaniacs). The claim that they are trying to take advantage of the British cover band is, to say the least, not supported by the evidence. Unfortunately, the venue owners do not want any trouble, and so they are canceling the Australian band's shows.

Contact:
Bob (Australian Abbamania's bass player and manager)

Email: bob@abbamania.com.au

OR

Terry Noone (Musicians' Union federal secretary)

Phone: (03)9355 7620 Mob: 0409 405 657 Email: musiciansua@aol.com

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney, Australia

CHART NEWS

And here are the charts for the week of 25 January to 1 February 2008

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson’s Orkester ­ BAO3 ­ Down 21 to #42

CANADA: ABBA The Millennium Collection, The Best Of ABBA (etc) down 3 to #74

CANADA: ABBA - ABBA GOLD ­ 2 weeks ago: #119, last week: Stable at #119, This week: down 22 to #141.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

MAMMA MIA! TRAILER HITS IRELAND

I was at a preview screening of the film "Definitely Maybe" last night and as it was a Universal picture, the first preview was for Mamma Mia!

The entire theatre went silent for the entire preview, and when it finished everyone erupted into chatter that went on into the next preview. I heard someone behind me gasp, "It's Mamma Mia!" ...

I heard from Universal that they expect the movie to be huge, and judging from the reaction last night, it looks like it just might be!

Can't wait for this film!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Trent Nickson, Dublin, Ireland