Mamma Mia! Here I Go Again.

My first time in Esplanade Theatre - 06 Nov 2004, MAMMA MIA!. VOULEZ-VOUS!!! Unable to tell you the exact meaning of that word.... Cannot find it inside the Times-Chambers Essential English Dictionary, the nearest "Making Difficult Words Sound Easier" book I can get my hands on. From my years of English writing (as if I am an expert), that word looks and sounds more than positive.

But the visit does not come easy.... at a time during the last couple of weeks, I thought I would never get to enter the Theatre for the next few years and never get to watch Mamma Mia! for the rest of my life. What happen? Well, my girlfriend and I mistook the date of the show and on the eve of it when I am about to have a look at the ticket and sing "I HAVE A DREAM", I had a shock of my life. The tickets were for the previous Saturday!! I cannot believe how I missed it, like an apple SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS. So hahaha, those inspirational books help. How did it happen? We initially intend to watch on a particular Saturday, but an earlier show offered better seats. Got the tickets of that earlier show, without updating our organisers of all sorts. And it is very kind of Sistic to give their customers ticket holder upon purchase to protect the tickets from rain and shine and from customers' sight and then their mind. It proved to be very 'useful'. DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW? No, but after having this published, she may, and I will know who the hell let the cat out. So we paid those MONEY, MONEY, MONEY for a valuable lesson and another item in my business plans folio named "What I Can Do For The World?".

Without procastinating, we bought another pair of tickets. Comptemplating missing Mamma Mia! would be tougher and who would think the devil would still know what we did during OUR LAST SUMMER. Well, we almost did.... or rather, if we err for the 6 Nov show, it will purely be by my overlook. We remembered the date by heart.... I even had it displayed prominantly on my desk.... but I almost forget this: November is one of the months when I may be mobilized by my re-service unit anytime, 99.99% on weekends. At least, we can do something. S.O.S. messages were sent to the appropriate persons to get the tickets out of our hands at a loss, but to no avail. Then I thought perhaps I can give it to my girlfriend's sister. At least the seat would not be left empty and the act of giving itself can be rewarding. After much thought, I think I should just take a risk and hope there will be no mobilization. Another weekend of mine in November has been booked for revision courses.... it is either I miss the show or that part of the course, or maybe I would not miss anything. Can you tell me THE NAME OF THE GAME? Call it "THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL".

On the afternoon of 6 Nov, my girlfriend and I went to Esplanade Theatre and hope that I would not receiving an sms from my re-service unit saying, "We are UNDER ATTACK and since you are ONE OF US, you are to report to camp immediately! Remember to bring your ID tag for identification.... we have a few unidentified dead bodies here and you don't want to be one later." Of course, I am exaggerating. But again, any sms from camp would shatter my dream of watching the musical and leave me walking away like a zombie. And anyone who sees me in that state would want to sing to me, "CHIQUITITA, tell me what's wrong....". LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME, Lady Luck and yes, she did. Past 3pm and no sms, KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU (my re-service unit), I am safe.

With that, I am ready to rock to the music of Abba's DANCING QUEEN. SUPER-TROUPER, the cast of Mamma Mia! (Singapore) is. No one can be wrong with Abba's music. The acting is absolutely flawless. And the dancing makes one wonder whether they are actors, singers or dancers.... what talent. Already towards the end of their tour and they show no sign of tireness or slack due to familiarity. And the props impressed me much.... Simple yet transformative. Enjoyed the show.... I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO, although for the first 45 minutes, I seem constipated with all that thoughts of mobilization. The Theory of Relativity was working.... the 2.5 hours spent in the theatre seems like 1.5. Good times always past exceptionally soon. The musical is closed with a medley of Abba's best songs that sent the audience dancing. To the cast and production team, THANK YOU FOR THE MUSICal.

This is an "Got-money-cannot-miss" musical and I highly recommended this to all my audience here. Tickets are still available and the show will be running until 3 December 2004. And that is my road to Esplanade Theatre for Mamma Mia! and all the songs featured in capital letter.... well, almost all.... WATERLOO!.... and that complete the list of songs featured in the musical. Wish you head down to sistic for the tickets and upon purchase of tickets, throw that silly ticket holder away.