Davitt College bring pop gold to Castlebar with stunning production of 'Mama!'

THERE’s no better way to mark the 40th anniversary of your first ever musical than with two-and-a-half hours of joy set to the greatest pop songs of all time.

With their 38th production, the boys and girls of Davitt College brought music, song, dance and smiles to yet another packed house – one which rocked, clapped and cheered along a legendary ABBA-inspired soundtrack all night long.

With the Swedish pop sensations never to gig again, shows like these are as close as you’ll get to hearing diamonds like ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Gimme Gimme’, ‘Voulez Vouz’, Chiquitita’ and so many more in all their glory.

But boy did Davitt College do a good job of them.

Between the stunning set, the playful and credible acting, the varied and vivacious choreography, and the sweet singing of pure pop gold, the cast of 100-plus have set a very high bar with this production.

A radiant, white, flower-bedecked set adorned with fishnets, buoys and sun chairs immersed us in the Greek island where the incredulous plot unfolds.

Here we meet Sophie (played by the excellent Lucy O’Brien), the 21-year-old bride-to-be raised by a workaholic single mother who longs to know who her father is.

After a trawl through her mother Donna’s (Emily Prendergast) diaries, Sophie throws three cats among the pigeon when she invites her mother’s old flames (Blake Joyce, Petr Samko and Lewis Stirzaker) to her wedding, thinking that one of them will surely be her father.

Awkward hilarity ensues in a show that is daft, occasionally poignant, but utterly joyous and uplifting.

Claire Gilliard (Rosie Mulligan) and Gabby Kilcourse (Tanya Cresham-Lee) were funny and sassy as Donna’s old bandmates.

Likewise, Aine Fitzgerald (Ali), Helen Murrihy (Lisa), Ella Garvey (Jen), Ava Flynn (Kate) Sebastien Brodecki (Pepper) and Samuel Buckton (Salt) gave it plenty of smiles, mischief and energy in their minor roles.

Across from maestro John Flatley’s rocking band, a choir of over 20-plus added a hefty ‘oopmh’ to some of the sing-a-along numbers.

The dancing has to be good for this show, but the dancing here was superb. It was tight, varied, energetic and even went down into the audience during a magnificent encore. The bit of Irish dancing before the start of the wedding scene also went down a treat – a lovely way to put your own unique spin on a show. Bravo!

They could sing, they could dance, they could jive, but most of all, they had the time of their lives.

And so did their audience. 

Mama! will be performed in Davitt College for the final time at 8pm this evening, Friday November 24.