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Mamma Mia! hits Greece

Based on the play based on the ABBA songs—Mamma Mia! hits the big screen and premières with a photo call in Greece

THE IDEA of a musical based around ABBA songs sounded odd enough when first mooted, but since then, Mamma Mia! has become a worldwide stage hit, tapping in to a global love of the Swedish group’s music. The long-awaited movie débuts this summer.

Set on a fictional Greek island, the producers decided that there would be no better place to launch the film than Athena, Greece, with a photo call yesterday (June 28) featuring the stars (Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper and Stellan Skårsgard) and two of the original members (and co-composers of many of the songs) of ABBA, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.

Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, also in the cast, were not present at the launch.

London, where the musical launched, is the cast’s next stop.

Andersson and Ulvaeus were originally hesitant about the idea of turning their songs into a musical when first approached in the 1990s, but it has since become a blockbuster.

The film is already getting positive reviews with its universally appealing story and familiar songs.

Some of the stage team have continued their roles in the film, with Catherine Johnson writing the screenplay, Phyllida Lloyd directing and Judy Craymer (who originated the idea) producing.

Gary Goetzmann shares producing duties with Craymer. Andersson, Ulvaeus, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, and Mark Huffam executive-produce. •

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