Play excellent, Venue a Problem
by BroadwayGirl on 3/11/25Chrysler Hall - NorfolkRating: 4 out of 5The musical itself is excellent. However the sound system at the Seven Venues in Norfolk was so loud that it felt like a Rock Concert, rather than a Broadway musical and, at least for me, made the show significantly less enjoyable. I was sitting on row L, and it sounded like I was a foot away from the stage. Fine for an outdoor concert but not for a musical. I saw this same production of Mama Mia at the Kennedy Center in August 2024. The tour had just started and the cast was fresh. It was a totally different experience and felt like a Broadway musical. The sound was balanced. The cast seemed more natural. I got the sense at the Norfolk production that they were playing for the laughs and applause, rather than letting those moments occur more naturally within in the musical story line. I’m so glad that I saw this first at the Kennedy Center as the whole experience was more authentic Broadway.
