"Dancing Queen"; a Ugandan ABBA
- Details
- Category: Events
- Published on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 12:03
- Written by Moses Serugo
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ABBA’s timeless discography is brought home in this daring adaptation of the hit movie Mama Mia, offering renewed hope in the musical as a stage genre albeit with a tinge of cultural imperialism. What makes Dancing Queen work is that it is a localised adaptation of this globalised story line that weaves multiple romantic plots to ABBA songs. This time the setting is in our own backyard on the idyllic Sesse Islands and not the Kalokairi. And we have Carol Birungi (played Carol Nabwire) instead of the movie’s Sophie Sheridan as the naughty post-adolescent bride-to-be who sends out three wedding invitations to the three different men, one of whom could be her dad.
Replacing New York-based Irish architect Sam Carmichael, Swedish adventurer and writer Bill Andersson, and British banker Harry Bright as potential dads to the bride-to-be are the geeky Opio Ojerere (Peter Benur O. Nyeko) with his penchant for combs sticking out of his hair half of the time, Kato (Aaron Kasozi) an architect and Aine Ankunda Isaac Lutwama Nsubuga “Luti”) a.k.a. MM, the Runyakitara Milk Millionaire.
Playing Donna Sheridan is Lynn Abarungi Atuhwera who takes on the more familiar character name of Sanyu, an independent single mother who owns a small hotel on the idyllic Ssesse islands. Her two former band mates this time are the cautious Rosie (Stella Matovu) and promiscuous cougar Lorna (Nina Kenirungi Rutaagi)- the one with a penchant for tongue-twister designer labels. Needless to say, the bulk of the cast also have daytime jobs as white-collar professionals if the mini-bios on the playbill are anything to go by.
The musical delivers on its promise of live music, a mega plus for the production and maybe the Ugandan performing arts scene. This is a marked departure from the until now accepted norm of actors lip-syncing to music, dialogue and a “phantom” band. The other plus about Dancing Queen is a chance for you to sing along to your favourite ABBA hits while making better sense of the lyrics. The dance choreography, live keyboard playing on The Winner Takes It All, exquisite stage design and good singing make watching this production worth one’s while. That’s if the other Thursday night alternatives of sketch comedy and live band music are not your idea of pre-weekend fun.
"Dancing Queen" ends Thursday January 26, 2012 at Theatre La Bonita 7pm. Tickets: UGX10K (Deluxe) and UGX20K (VIP).
MOSES SERUGO ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). Cast photo: Eid Osama ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).