Dancing Queens, Redux

Comments (0) By Susan Froyd Thursday, Nov 4 2010

The fluffy songs of Swedish ’70s sensations ABBA are all about giving it up and feeling good; even the pleasantly good-looking, disco-dressed singers themselves — Frida, Benny, Björn and Agnetha — gave off a placidly sweet aura that just plain made their millions of fans feel happy. The Broadway musical Mamma Mia! intends to bring back that feeling to modern audiences and, borne aloft by hit after ABBA hit, succeeds. It’s kind of an excuse to string those songs together with a plot, but who cares? With a cast of characters from two generations, the story about a young couple being wed and the reuniting of middle-aged best friends and lovers bridges the generation gap on that barrage of snappy melodies. Plus, like a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta of old, everyone finds somebody to be with by the end of this musical lite. Bravo!

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Mamma Mia! returns tonight to the Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, for a carefree rerun through Sunday; single tickets start at $25. Go to www.denvercenter.org or call 303-893-4100.
Nov. 2-6, 8 p.m.; Nov. 6-7, 2 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., 2010