Mamma Mia - Novello Theatre

I just tried the rush and it offered me stalls F24 for £29.50.

I´ve never actually bought them, but I´ve frequently gone to the TodayTix app at different hours to see what´s available and I´ve always seen rush available for this show. But better to be prepared at 9:59 just in case.

No it was about 11am when I looked. 

Managed to rush yesterday (Saturday) for the matinee as I wanted to see the new cast.

Picked up the fifth row about 10:40am. In theory, my seat was a premium seat (£100+) and the view was very good, but it's the only time I've ever not sat in the front row and I could feel a distance.

Based on the people either side of me, the fifth row comes with various alcoholic incentives. Neither lady could avoid singing or talking, but only one of them did their best impression of dancing with their hands throughout whilst remaining seated.

The first row, incidentally, was mainly taken by one single international party who arrived randomly throughout the first half to join their seats (sometimes in the middle of songs). They were, however, well behaved once they were seated.

The new cast is very good. I hadn't actually paid that much attention to the names, other than to see that the excellent trio of Mazz Murray, Gemma Goggin and Josie Benson remained, so it was a very pleasant surprise to see Jacob Young in the ensemble. Of course, this is one show where you're guaranteed that the men and women on the Greek island have access to a world class gym.

Everyone has done their best to make the new roles their own. Lots of subtle differences. I did see Jake Bailey as Pepper and Lucca Chadwick-Patel as Eddie and immediately assume they had the opposite role, purely based on the look of the previous cast. I did really warm to Lucca as Eddie and not being afraid to look daft onstage, which is so important for this show.

Meg Hateley as Sophie is very talented and has a beautiful voice. It must run in the family.

All the leads were on, with the exception of David Haydn as Sam (a role that was odd to see played with a Scottish accent, unless this always the case with the new cast). All very good as I mentioned, but this is a show which is a well-oiled machine.

I expect I was a bit unlucky with seating, but fifth row is about as far back as I would want to sit. It was one of the slowest standing ovations I've seen for some time (I didn't like to start this in the fifth row, the lady next to me made several goes to part stand, then sat back down - I think she was also translating some of the plot twists in French to her friend as well as helping out by turning out some of most poignant songs into dance numbers). Apart from that, I should try and learn the official dance steps for Waterloo!

Shall hopefully see again before too long, but with a better audience!

I saw this on Saturday, and I really enjoyed it! Went to see Meg Hateley as Sophie, assumed she’d be good, but she surpassed my expectations! A real triple threat, great acting with some brill comedic expressions, fab dancing and a beautiful voice. A real chip off the old block! The rest of the cast were equally brilliant. I loved Mazz Murray as Donna, she’s got one of the most beautiful voices! I’ll probably go back next summer!

A 4th film! Isn't that a little excessive?

Whilst there's no doubt enough songs in ABBA's back-catalogue that could be used, a 3rd film (I feel) is necessary to tie up the following:

We as the audience deserve to know why and how Donna died,

We as the audience deserve to see Ruby cast Donna aside when she learns of the pregnancy; and

We as the audience deserve to see Ruby break it off with Fernando Cienfuegos

The problem with dragging out a 4th film is that unless all of the principle cast return, not only do you run the risk of ruining continuity but you also run the risk of loosing the audience.

Yes, introduce new characters however it also needs a strong enough and plausible storyline.

As (in so many ways) the second film was better than the first so, in turn, one would expert the 3rd to better than the 2nd, and the 4th better than the 3rd.

And as they haven't as yet been included, given the above, I would anticipate the following songs to be included this time round; Under Attack, So Long, I Let The Music Speak, Like An Angel Passing Through The Room, I Still Have Faith In You and don't Shut Me Down to name but a few..

And what caused Donna's mum to go from being a conservative god fearing Catholic, to...well...party loving Cher

I can now answer this point, nearly 3 months later! David Haydn was on for Harry & did it in RP therefore he must change his accent for each of the 3 Dads according to what the lead does. Norman, as I expected, is again using his own Scottish accent as Sam.

Her Winner Takes It All is wonderful isn’t it. Made me cry when I saw it!

I think there’s some discussion further up this thread but the conclusion seems to be that there’s not a specific schedule for Donna unfortunately. I caught the show at a Sat matinee last autumn and was so pleased she was on!

Best of luck, I hope you and your Mum get to see Mazz!

I'm there tonight. assuming we can get to, and find a parking space in, Abbey Wood for the Elizabeth Line. No trains. Fortunately my car-driving son is also seeing a show in London tonight.

I booked it through the OLT sale for £40, and there's currently front row availability at that price on the March dates now included in that sale.