(Gananoque, July 5, 2024) Before DNA testing became the ultimate way to get an answer, it was a matter of faith as to who your parents were. You could usually be pretty sure about your mother, but your father was who she told you it was.  And if she didn’t tell you, or wasn’t sure herself, you might have to go to some pretty fantastic lengths to make sure he could give you away at your wedding.

When “Mamma Mia!” debuted 25 years ago, Sophie (Annika Tupper) wouldn’t be able to go to 23andMe to get a definitive answer. Instead, she had to rely on her mother Donna’s (Jessica Sherman) diary to figure out who he was, where he was, and how to get him to come to Greece so he can give her away at her upcoming wedding to Sky (Brandon Antonio). She shares with her best friends Lisa (Jen Fong) and Ali (Eva Petris) that she knows it’s one of three – Sam Carmichael (David Leyshon), Bill Austin (Jeremy Legat) or Harry Bright (Rob Torr), but which one?

Donna is at first horrified by finding her three former lovers on her island, but bolstered by best friends Tanya (Louise Camilleri) and Rosie (Laura Caswell) she finds a way to not only cope, but to triumph in this next great step in her daughter’s life.

In a genre known as the “jukebox musical”, “Mamma Mia!” at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque is a high energy production performed by a cast of 20 people and bursting with everyone’s favourite Abba tunes. Although the group was popular 50 years ago, the show dares the audience members to not sing along to popular songs like “Chiquitia”, “I Have a Dream”, and of course “Mamma Mia”. Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus did not write the songs for the stage, but when Catherine Johnson was presented with the idea by Judy Craymer, she found inspiration and joy weaving hits from a Swedish super group into a romantic story set in the Greek isles. Filled with hilarity and fun filled adventure as well as toe tapping music, this is a show not to be missed. Stephanie Graham’s choreography is perfectly complimented by Julia Kim’s costume designs, the two working together to make the numbers explode well beyond their original intent.

“Mamma Mia!” is already the record setting ticket seller of all the Playhouse’s history. It has been extended and runs from July 2 – August 10 at the Springer Theatre, 185 South Street, Gananoque. Recommended for all ages. Run time for the play is about 2 hours and 30 minutes including a 20-minute intermission. Dock Talks (Pre-Show Q&A): Wednesdays 1 p.m. Highly recommended for audiences of all ages. Show times are Wednesday through Saturday 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $49.50, perimeter seating $39.50, for adults with youth (under 20) tickets $19 and a Gan Rush Rate of $25. HST and ticketing fees are applicable to all ticket prices. For more information, please go to www.1000islandsplayhouse.com or contact the box office at 613-382-7020 or boxoffice@1000islandsplayhouse.com .