A FLUTTER of excitement came over music theatre performer Sarah Morrison when she heard Mamma Mia! The Musical was being staged in Australia again.
“It was one of the first shows I ever saw as an 11-year-old,” Morrison said.
“I sat there as a kid and realised ‘Oh, that’s what they do as a job. I want to do that if I ever could’.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“So often during Slipping Through My Fingers I will lose the plot if there’s a small child, particularly a little girl and her mum in the front row, because I went with my mum to see the show.”
Morrison landed the key role of daughter Sophie, who on the eve of her nuptials to fiance Sky is looking for her father among three possibilities she invited to her wedding.
“Having seen the movie and show before, I think I still came into this underestimating Sophie quite a bit,” Morrison said.
“It wasn’t until rehearsals that I realised how much was going on here for her. Obviously aside from the fact she is the troublemaker who creates all this anarchy, I think she’s also relatable because she just wants to understand herself more, which I don’t think ever stops, even when we’re 70. I love that she is headstrong, quite independent and it’s a very rare thing in the theatre to see a single mum and daughter.”
WAAPA graduate Stephen Mahy plays opposite Morrison as Sky and attributed securing the role to his co-star, who he had worked with before.
“We met each other on a kid’s show in Singapore,” Mahy said.
“I’d read with other people in the audition but when I read with Sarah on the last audition day the chemistry was great with how we bounced off each other; it just worked. I thought if I was going to get it, it was going to be because of that.”
Mahy said he was drawn to this reimagined version of Mamma Mia! The Musical because although the script and songs were the same, it was an all new set, choreography and lighting design using all LED lights.
“Sky is a fun character to be and I like he’s quite grounded and at peace, living the life he wanted,” Mahy said.
“You could go in to the role thinking it’s just a few fluffy scenes and a song but Sophie is so strong and I love he supports her and is there for her no matter what. It’s very romantic.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Mamma Mia! The Musical
Where: Crown Theatre Perth
When: May 15 to July 1
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au