January 2018

Reviewer: Nikki Lee

This groovy foursome were undoubtedly one of the biggest phenomenons in their heyday in the 70’s and early 80’s.

While the original members of ABBA no longer tour and perform, fans of the group can still see and hear the magic of ABBA by seeing “The ABBA Show”, currently playing at the Athenaeum in Melbourne.

The music, the singing, the costumes – the whole performance is just a wonderful thing to see.

The show opened with the classic ABBA hit ‘The Name Of The Game’ and followed with so many ABBA favourites including ‘Chiquitita’, ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’, ‘Money Money Money’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Honey Honey’, ‘Rock Me’ and ‘Does Your Mother Know’.

There was a 20-minute interval half way through the show, then the second half began with another costume change and more hits performed including’ Super Trouper’,’ Fernando,’ ‘Why Did It Have To Be Me’, ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’, ‘Voulez Vous’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Ring Ring’, ‘Thank you For The Music’, ‘Waterloo’ and ‘So Long’.

The encore of ‘The Winner Takes it all’ was absolutely amazing.

The show then finished with the ABBA medley mix of songs, ‘Thank ABBA For The Music’.

All in all, this show was a wonderful tribute performance to ABBA and a great way to dance the night away. There was singing, some humour, crowd participation and of course the dancing!

After the show, the performers of ‘The ABBA Show’ met fans in the foyer and even had a few photos taken. There was also a merchandise table selling ABBA-related goodies!

CONCERT / TRIBUTE SHOW  

Produced by Showtime Australia 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert  on Dec 15, 2017

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Talk about enthusiastic! The Melbourne audience members at The ABBA Show were as involved and effervescent as the performers, leaping to their feet, dancing in their seats, waving their arms and singing along like kids at a Wiggles concert. 

Even ABBA lookalikes send fans of that 1970s, Swedish pop phenomenon into uninhibited, joyful frenzy when they hear such distinctive hits as Dancing Queen, Waterloo, Fernando, Super Trouper, Money Money Money, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Ring Ring. Doesn’t ABBA love repetition?

This tribute show delivers 20 ABBA songs and replicates the glitzy costumes, 70s hairdos, signature choreography and even the on-stage relationships between Agnetha (Hannah Pocock), Frida (Jenna Ball), Björn on guitar (Cameron Charters) and Benny on keyboard (Brent McMullen).

Their Swedish accents may be dodgy and their banter decidedly cheesy, but the foursome sings with gusto and Pocock and Ball capture the spirit, glamour and sensuality of Agnetha and Frida as they stamp their knee-high boots, flick their hair and sing with passion and flair.

The ABBA Show includes original video of the real ABBA performing, but this concert has no narrative and any dialogue is used merely to introduce songs or encourage fervent fans to sing and dance.

Director, Johnny Van Grinsven, focuses the show on Benny and Björn’s music played by a tight, three-piece band of bass (Zach Coombs), drums (Ben Harper), synth and saxophone (Hayden Baird).

Ball brings an audience member on stage as ABBA’s ‘man after midnight’, and vivacious volunteer, Jack, becomes a show highlight, donning a feather boa and sequined hat before outdancing Agnetha and Frida.

The ABBA Show is delightfully daggy, and witnessing middle-aged blokes wiggling their bods and flailing their arms to Mamma Mia is a delicious pre-Christmas treat.