‘Money, money, money’ - Mamma Mia on stage
Mamma Mia leads. Back row from left: Ruby Walker, Kenny Neve-Bain, Vanya Heaslip, Connor Morrison, Patrick Fowler. Front row, from left: Nick Ross, Kea Nukada, Francheska Matias, Enya Palmer, Stan Zabala. Reclining: Quinn Walton. Absent: Luka Ewert.
It’s the worldwide smash show that mashes the hits of ABBA into a story set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi.
And now Taupo-nui-a-Tia College is taking its chance to get into the ‘Money, Money, Money’.
With a dozen in the group of leads and a cast of 55 overall, the musical ‘Mamma Mia’ is a major undertaking that has had the team at the college going from almost the first day of school this year.
“The pressure was on straight away,” said Vanya Heaslip who plays Sophie.
As well as a demanding rehearsal schedule to date, there will be some intensive work in the second week of the term holidays to ensure everyone is ready for curtain up in late May.
Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ catchy compositions are familiar to most of us, and many know the story woven around them by British playwright Catherine Johnson – Sophie wants her father to give her away at her impending wedding, but he could be one of three of her mother’s former suitors, so she secretly invites all three to the nuptials.
It’s the ninth show director and college head of drama Viv Gowdy has put on at the school which ran regularly until a several year break for the Covid pandemic – finally broken by Grease in 2023.
It is a first at the school for head of music Rowan Bolley, who has moved from Tauhara College – to be thrown straight into the melee again after his involvement in their production last year.
It was an interesting way to start a new school, he said.
“I chose the right time.”
But, said Gowdy, deflecting any irony, the new signing “or maestro as we call him” had embraced his role.
Also embracing their roles, along with Heaslip, are the rest of the leads: Francheska Matias (Donna), Enya Palmer (Tanya), Luka Ewert (Rosie), Ruby Walker (Ali), Kea Nukada (Lisa), Nick Ross (Sam), Stan Zabala (Harry), Quinn Walton (Bill), Patrick Fowler (Pepper) and Connor Morrison (Eddie).
Five of them are first timers and for some of the boys getting to grips with the choreography, put together by Toni Neve, has revealed hidden talents.
Patrick Fowler had surprised with his dance skills, said Gowdy, though this was contested by the 193cm (six foot four) student.
“The movements are too quick, I think I may be just a bit too long.”
And while he spent most of the interview time snoozing under a hoodie on the drama room couch, Gowdy said Quinn Walton had “turned into the dance star we never knew. The man has moves.”
Walton’s relaxed: “I’m not worried, either way it’s going to be good…” showed at least he was familiar with the dramatic convention of ‘always leave them wanting more’.
The college’s Mamma Mia season runs from May 20-24, with no show on the Friday night due to Rockquest though with two performances on the Saturday, a matinee and the final evening show. Tickets are available on Trybooking.com, $20 students, $30 adults, $20 gold card.
A deserved last word to Nick Ross: “I think it will be good” – correcting himself following a suggestion that he hadn’t yet done the media training: “It will be good, I’m sure.”