‘Mamma Mia’ has new run

By John Benson

People who loved the movie are flocking to see the play.

Considering the feature film was released a few weeks ago, the timing couldn’t be better for Broadway smash hit “Mamma Mia!” to return to Cleveland on Tuesday for a six-day run at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre.

“We’re so excited with the film,” said actress Kittra Wynn Coomer, who plays the “Mamma Mia!” role of wisecracking Rosie. “My initial concern was people were going to say, ‘Well we can see this for $12 at the cineplex, why do we have to go to the theater?

“But now having rethought that, it will now bring in people who normally wouldn’t have gone to the theater because they’ll see the movie and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I need to see it live on stage. So we’ve got to go see it.’ I think it’s a win-win for everybody, or at least I hope it is.”

Invariably, the entire “Mamma Mia!” experience has been a win for Coomer, who was a working actress in her native Seattle when she learned of open auditions for the show.

“So I went down to [Las] Vegas, auditioned and a week later they flew me to New York City for callbacks,” Coomer said. “And then the next week, I was packing my stuff and getting ready to join the tour. I was lucky, just in the right place at the right time.”

While Coomer’s r sum includes regional productions of “Grease,” “Always, Patsy Cline,” “Pump Boys and Dinettes” and “Menopause The Musical,” “Mamma Mia!” marks her national tour debut.

“I’m 36 and my parents say that it took me 36 years to become an overnight success,” Coomer said, laughing. “‘Mamma Mia!’ started out being just a nice gig, but the music really is infectious every night. It’s just so much fun, and the role of Rosie is just me.

“She’s crazy and nutty and kind of unsure of herself and always has that wisecrack at the right time, or the wrong time depending on whose opinion you’re asking. Plus, she gets to sing all of the great songs, so it’s really a dream role.”

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs, “Mamma Mia!” features popular songs from the Swedish band such as “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Money, Money, Money” and, of course, “Take a Chance on Me.”

In some regards, the success of “Mamma Mia!” is mind-boggling. Here’s a Broadway theatrical production with a loose narrative based around, well, ABBA songs. Tantamount to decades from now creating a musical using Spice Girls or *Nsync tracks, in theory “Mamma Mia!” should be a train wreck.

While Coomer said she agrees, having originally shared the same opinion, she also points out there is something magical about “Mamma Mia!” that transcends logic and has made it take on a life of its own.

“I think the book and story are just plausible enough,” Coomer said. “They’ve just tried really hard to make it just believable enough. So when you’re following along and something will happen and then the perfect ABBA song will be entwined, you’re so happy to hear that song and you realize it works so well.

“I think that’s why this ‘jukebox musical’ has been so successful with the road company being out for six years. It’s just because you can suspend your disbelief just long enough to hear that next great ABBA song. It just works.”