Mamma Mia!

The show that has been a phenomenon on Broadway, on tour, and even at the movies, "Mamma Mia," was back in Indy for live performances Friday through today (Sunday) at Clowes Hall.

For those who haven't seen this musical, it is a wonderful experience well worth the effort of seeing (unless you really hate the music of ABBA). It frames the pop hits of the 1970s-80s Swedish supergroup in a romantic comedy reminiscent of the goofy situations of a Shakespeare comedy.

But then many have seen it, especially the film -- now on DVD -- starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan and using an actual Greek island. Still, it's something you really should see in person -- the fun, the live atmosphere, the more over-the-top costumes.

I couldn't make it this time, but my correspondent Wendy Carson did and noted to me that the show was still great in spite of a couple of flaws. Notably the more frumpy of the mother's two best friends wasn't cast with a larger woman, which made the jokes at her expense kinda go flat. But nitpicks aside, everyone, on stage and in the audience, had "the time of their lives."