Review: MAMMA MIA! - THE MUSICAL, Edinburgh Playhouse, 30 November 2016

Ripped torsos, fake tan, a man in a dress, gay anthems and flippers...No, Priscilla Queen of the Desert has not driven its bus back to Edinburgh, rather Mamma Mia! has strutted its way to the capital. The Playhouse has transported itself from Australia to Greece, via Sweden for this year's festive residency.

Debuting in the West End back in 1999, Mamma Mia! has become a global smash all over the world, leaving diamantes and platform boot footprints in over 40 countries. The script is simple, but rather smartly weaves the hits of Swedish megastars ABBA into what is a cheesy but pleasing story: one girl's search for her father before her wedding. She's invited three possible candidates to her big day, without her mother knowing. What could possible go wrong?

By song two you will know exactly what is going on, which is a great achievement for a jukebox musical. What holds the show together is the strength of Benny and Björn's lyrics. Unlike Viva Forever, the Spice Girls musical by the same producer, each song tells its own story and emotional journey, which can tug at a heartstring like the perfect harpist, or get you twitching your toes desperate for a dancefloor. The songs do feel a little shoehorned in, but by the time the chorus kicks in they fit with the story and each is justified.

Unfortunately the script to song transitions jar - bursting into song, not untypical for the theatre, jolts the performance each time. And when it's not spontaneous, there are awkward pauses. The score could do with a refresh as well. For a show with songs from the Seventies and Eighties, the instrumentals sounds musically very much of the Nineties.

The cast are of a high calibre and their wealth of West End experience shines through. The young, vibrant performers do get upstaged, however, by the Super Trooper seniors. Emma "legs for days" Clifford as Tanya has the grace of Posh Spice and the wink of Samantha Jones, Jacqueline Braun as Rosie brings the house down, and Sara Poyzer as the Dancing Queen show lead Donna commands the stage with an outstanding performance. It is a real night for girl power. Yet the male cast do not get left in the Greek dust. All three of the fabulous fathers are West End Mamma Mia! veterans and it is the toughest snog, marry, avoid in theatre history.

The show caters well to the Christmas night out, bringing the girls and their grans to the theatre market. Fans of the film will not be disappointed, and will hear much of the score sang properly for the first time...

It is not a flawless musical, nor production, but once the closing medley begins, you'll want to go again! My, my how can you resist it?

Mamma Mia! - The Musical runs at The Edinburgh Playhouse until the 7 January.

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