But the Sun is Still in the Sky and Shining Above You

"The.. doth protest too much, methinks."  Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, scene II


I like what I would call manly things, football, baseball, fighting, star wars books (although that might be considered more nerdy than manly) eating meat, etc. I generally loathe period dramas, day time talk shows, and capri pants, things I would consider not so manly. I especially don't care for musicals. The whole singing, dancing, and gesturing broadly is just not in my wheelhouse. I have a couple of exceptions. I enjoy Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, because my stake did a production of it when I was in 8th grade. 


If you gave me two options: 1. Watch Chicago 2. Punch myself in the face. I would probably choose the latter. But their is one thing that trumps my disdain for musicals and that would of course be my love for ABBA, and by association the musical Mamma Mia!


Last night, I had an almost deja vu like experience to the time I went to see Kelly Clarkson, when I joined a group of girls to go and see Mamma MIa at Wolf Trap. Guess what? I loved it.

I can not pin point exactly the moment where I figured out that ABBA was one of the greatest Pop Groups in history although I clearly remember reading a book in junior high were the protagonist loved to listen to ABBA records. I thought the book was Dear Mr. Henshaw but it could be Indian in the Cupboard I'm not sure. In any event, going to Sweden on my mission, was what really helped me appreciate all things Swedish, not the least of which was ABBA. I remember I bought the ABBA Gold CD in Sweden and it stayed in my suit case two years before I listened to it. In fact I love ABBA so much that the following commercial makes me smile every time I watch it.





I own the movie MAMMA MIA, and am not afraid to say that I have enjoyed the Sing Along version. But before last night i had never seen the stage show.

I went with Laura, Whitney, Alli, and Courtney, to scenic Wolf Trap, to enjoy the show. We ate pizza, shot the breeze, and were eaten by mosquitoes. I could not even think of a single one of my buddies who would have had any interest in seeing the show.


It was a little different from the movie. I felt like the songs may have been in a different order, and the character Bill in the play was American as opposed to being Swedish in the movie. The singing and dancing were fantastic, although the acting wasn't the best.


I really enjoyed all the spontaneously dancing in the audience by mostly middle aged women who I can only assume had taken advantage of Wolf Trap's liberal policy regarding alcohol consumption. 


I had a great time, and am looking forward to seeing an ABBA tribute band come to Wolf Trap in September.