Mamma Mia
at Haverford Senior High School

Reviewed on April 29, 2022

Taylor Malone
Conestoga High School
Submitted for publication to WordPress Site and Cappies Page

Let it be known that you can dance, you can jive, and you can certainly have the time of your life when experiencing the groovy trance of Haverford High School's "Mamma Mia!" As the curtain closes of such a sensational story all you'll be able to hear is chants of gimmie, gimmie, gimmie an encore before midnight!

As spunky Dynamo-singer Rosie says...it is very Greek. "Mamma Mia!" follows the harrowing journey of a curious girl, Sophie, as she explores new heights to learn who her father truly is. Good news is, she has a lead on who could be the mystery man. Bad news is...she has three leads on who "they" could be.

Despite having to step into this role at the last minute, Emma Swantak (Sophie), does a delightful job capturing the youthful impression her character needs. Stand-out solos prompted by her promising vocals include "I Have a Dream" and heart-felt duet with her mother, "Slipping Through My Fingers."

Here she goes again, my, my, how can anyone resist her? That is the one and only Lily Guidetti, playing the spontaneous Donna, Sophie's mother. Adding to the flare of not only her pants but also her personality too, Guidetti utilizes her charismatic and comedic physicality to mold a light-hearted atmosphere, showing the audience why she may be known as a "Super Trouper."

Alongside this dancing queen stand her two partners in crime, Tanya (Katie Blickley) and Rosie (Ava Facciolo). Together, the trio mesmerizes the audience with their platonic chemistry, surely convincing the crowd they've been the iconic Donna and the Dynamos for as long as they've claimed. Masters of the disco, Haverford High School's Vacationer ensemble hypnotizes viewers to the point where they are practically dancing in their seats with the funky tunes that are brought their way.

On stage seems to not be the only party going on, but indeed behind that curtain is another spectacular production. Transforming a stage into the tropical oasis of Greece is no easy feat, but it is surely no shock Haverford's team can go above and beyond for this. Specifically, amazing creativity can be seen in Haverford's Marketing/Publicity Team, run by Camille Stahl and Ava Facciolo. In addition to this abundance of talent is Caleb Schmidt plus his wonderful orchestra, which at such an early age is able to compose this upbeat jukebox tune all by himself.

This isn't the type of show to just start "slipping through your fingers," with the cast and crew's dedication to making this performance stand out from the rest. Before you know it, you'll be hearing yourself say "I do, I do, I do" to any chance you can get to see Haverford's tremendous productions!

Lilian Rizek
The Hill School
Submitted for publication to WordPress Site and Cappies Page

Mamma Mia! What a show it was, at Haverford High School. The Haverford Drama Club performed a well-known 1999 musical composed of songs by the group "ABBA".

Mamma Mia! takes place over the last 24 hours before the wedding of 20-year-old Sophie. Her mom, Donna, owns and operates a taverna on a small Greek island, and for Sophie's whole life she has been content not knowing her father. However, three months before the wedding, Sophie made an effort to identify and invite her father, but realized there are three men who could have that title so she invites them all to the wedding where they are reintroduced to an island they haven't been to in ages.

Though she held the role of Assistant Director for the show, Emma Swantak stepped in as Sophie less than 24 hours ahead of opening night. She was understandably uncertain about certain dances, however, Swantak nailed every song, with a sweet and soft tone that was well suited to the character of Sophie. She brought great energy and excitement to the stage, keeping the audience invested in Sophie's life and story. The role of Donna was held by Lily Guidetti, who brought a strong voice and clear skill to her role.

Sophie's fiancé, Sky, was played by Nicholas Borgesi, whose strong voice and confident dancing brought a life to his part. Sophie's three potential fathers were a strong supporting cast: from Sam (Michael Selfridge), with a voice and charm that captured the audience, to Bill (Ellis Singleton) and Harry (Colin Cleary), with acting and comedic timing that entertained in the best moments. The three meshed well together and with Guidetti and Swantak.

Katie Blickley and Ava Facciolo as Tanya and Rosie created a great bond with a balance of bickering and helping tones, and they filled the emotional challenges of their characters as well as bringing a great energy to their songs. The ensemble brought a great immersion to the show, creating the feel of being on an island. Though occasionally lacking in energy overall, the ensemble brought energy to every dance and demonstrated a clear mastery of their staging.

The technical aspects of the show were impressive. The lighting for the show was phenomenal, accurately catching each mood, with spotlights capturing every move. This was enhanced by the effective stage management, with perfectly timed cues and a clear communication among cast and crew regarding blocking and moving set pieces. The student-conducted orchestra completed the show, demonstrating mastery of the score and a clear relationship with the cast.

Mamma Mia! is an difficult undertaking, with the amount of songs and the storytelling to be done. The entire cast showed an ability to work together and a mastery of the show. "Thank You For The Music", Haverford!

Aiden Kaliner
Harriton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies Page

Full of glittering costumes and flashy lights, The Haverford High School's production of Mamma Mia! glamorously excelled with lots of disco-flare and fan-favorite ABBA classics.

Mamma Mia! tells the story of Sophie Sheridan, a young woman about to be married on a Greek island. But as she prepares for her big day, she feels she needs to answer a lingering question in her life: who is her dad? Sophie sends out invitations to Sam, Harry, and Bill after snooping through her mother's diary. Three months later, the three potential fathers show up to the island, to Sophie's excitement and Donna's dismay. Chaos and new love affairs arise all backdropped by a score full of ABBA's greatest hits.

Haverford's production had unparalleled energy. Given the large ensemble, the entire cast brought life to the musical with stellar songs such as "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" and "Does Your Mother Know." Most notably, Bethany Jesse, Jessie Smith, and Cassidy Komar--who went on as Ali with only 24 hours notice--were all stand-out performers and dancers in the ensemble. The three brought incredible dedication, technical skill, and energy to each number.

Lily Guidetti (Donna) and Emma Swantak (Sophie) led the cast as the mother-daughter duo. Swantak, also an understudy, gave an impressively strong performance. Although she performed with such short notice, her command of the role felt prepared, genuine, and professional. Guidetti must be applauded for her pop-sounding vocals. They were a perfect match for the burnt-out mother and captivated audiences throughout the production. Guidetti's reserved portrayal made "The Winner Takes It All"--Donna's powerhouse solo--that much more powerful.

Michael Selfridge as Sam shined amongst the potential fathers. His bright vocals complemented his character arc from jaded ex to Donna's endearing love interest. Additionally, Katie Blickley (Tanya) and Ava Facciolo (Rosie) gave hysterical performances in their supporting roles. Their comedic timing provided support for the show-stopping trio, Donna and the Dynamos. Their friendship certainly felt organic. Blickley's performance of "Does Your Mother Know" was stellar. Her sultry persona, and onstage chemistry with Max Cargrey (Pepper), made the number unforgettable.

The show was astounding technically. Caleb Schmidt and the Haverford Pit deserve a standing ovation for their work. The music sounded professional and emulated the ABBA hits perfectly. The orchestra clearly demonstrated talent and dedication to the production. The set, designed by William Marley and the Haverford Set Crew, was breathtaking. The design of the hotel was enormous and, without a doubt, difficult to build, yet it looked professional and added to the island-life atmosphere.

Catchy tunes and incredible energy certainly had audiences dancing, jiving, and having the time of their lives at Haverford's Mamma Mia!

Nola Dowd
PA Leadership Charter School: Center for Performing & Fine Arts
Submitted for publication to Cappies Page

Witty, dynamic, and exciting, Haverford High Schools' cast and crew of "Mamma Mia" took a chance on a beloved story, and they did not disappoint.

A jukebox musical with songs from the Swedish pop group ABBA, Mamma Mia follows young bride-to-be Sophie as she prepares for her wedding. She was raised by her single mother, Donna, and one day discovers that there are three different men who could be her dad. Sophie, desperate to know her father, sends each of the men an invitation to her wedding in hopes that she will be able to uncover the truth, but keeps her plan a secret, even from her mother.

One of the most impressive aspects about this production and cast was its ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunately, the original actresses who played the characters Sophie and Ali were unable to perform for the run, which meant Assistant Directors Emma Swantak (Sophie) and Cassidy Komar (Ali) needed to take the stage, and they did not disappoint. Their performances seamlessly blended in as if they also had been performing with the rest of the cast for months, not mere days. Swantak's vocal performance in particular was very impressive, not only from a quality perspective but also because of the sheer volume of material she needed to master.

Powerful, sensitive, dynamic Lily Guidetti, was showstopping in her rendition of the beloved mother Donna. With a low, resonant voice, she dominated the musical aspect of this show, constantly providing the audience with heartwarming, breaking, and stopping moments. Her interpretation of the cherished song, "Slipping Through My Fingers" touched the hearts of everyone in the room as they too were transported into fond memories of the past. Her romantic counterpart Michael Selfridge (Sam), also shined vocally and brought the sarcastic, witty character to life with a great amount of charisma. Their shared number, "S.O.S" was vocally astounding, visually pleasing, and their chemistry was fantastic.

Supporting Guidetti were her two on-stage best friends, Katie Blickley (Tanya) and Ava Facciolo (Rosie). Blickley played her judgmental and glamorous character well, shining in her solo song, "Does Your Mother Know" which was one of the most comedic moments in the show. Facciolo was a consistent source of entertainment and she had chemistry with every person she interacted with on stage, elevating the entire cast. Together with Guidetti, these two did the Dynamos justice, especially in the song, "Chiquitita" which showcased their relationships and snappy dynamic. Colin Cleary (Harry) was also particularly notable and his song, "Our Last Summer" with Lily Guidetti (Donna) was very endearing, as was the rest of his performance.

Visually the show was beautiful, with sets designed by William Marley and the Haverford Set Crew. While the backdrops were more simplistic, the actual villa was quite impressive, with a staircase, several doors, and operational shutters. Musically this production was astounding, its orchestra was not only completely comprised of students but also conducted by a student, which is no easy feat. The orchestra did a fantastic job accompanying and following the actors, despite some technical issues with sound.

Visually beautiful, musically stunning, and full of heartwarming moments, Haverford High Schools' production of "Mamma Mia" is a show to remember.