Mamma Mia!

I saw the current revival of Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 18, 2025, and overall, I had a good time. This was my first time seeing the stage version, having only seen the movie before, and the live format works well for what this show is trying to be. It is light, breezy, and unapologetically fun.

The show does not take itself too seriously, and that is absolutely to its benefit. The audience energy was high, and it felt like a communal experience from the jump. The cast was clearly having a good time, and that enthusiasm carried through the house. Performances were solid across the board, and everyone leaned into the tone without trying to force depth where the material does not ask for it.

Musically, it is exactly what you expect. If you love ABBA, this is your show. I know all the songs used here, but if I am being honest, I am not a huge ABBA fan. I enjoy them as fun karaoke songs now and then, but I would not call myself a superfan like many people in the audience clearly were. Even so, the music works well in this context, and the crowd ate it up.

The staging was simple but effective, keeping the focus on the performers and the songs without unnecessary spectacle. Nothing blew me away, but nothing distracted either, which feels like the right balance for this piece. I walked out smiling. Mamma Mia! does what it sets out to do, and sometimes that is more than enough.