Wednesday night was the sixth time I've seen the Broadway musical "Mamma Mia!."

At least, I think I'm at six.

It could even be seven.

But I know I've seen and enjoyed this show at least half a dozen times, including once in Las Vegas.

And I can honestly say I've enjoyed every experience.

And every guest I've ever convinced/dragged with me has had a blast, ranging from my mom Peggy and a Polish college exchange student Andrzej "Andrew" Lukasik who stayed with us at our farm in summer of 2001 to even those more reluctant and ready to roll their eyes as soon as the curtain went up like my features editor Crista Zivanovic and buddies like my Serbian friend Sanjin Bosnjak, both of whom were tapping their feet by the end of the first number.

The latest touring production of this stage favorite for every generation has just arrived in Chicago and continues at the Auditorium Theatre until Sept. 28. And just like all of my previous ABBA encounters enjoying this song and dance sensation, this latest incarnation to the Windy City doesn't disappoint.

And I already have a reply for everyone who is thinking: "I already saw the feature film version of this show that just came out over the summer starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan" or "Rather than me paying $50 to see the stage musical in Chicago, I can see the same show at my local theater for $12 featuring an all-star cast."

WelI, I also watched the feature film and let me say there's a reason that some actors and actresses are not musical material.

Streep and especially Brosnan (groan) fit this category.

There's a quote from the late, great Nancy Walker, who died too soon in 1992 at age 70 and had starred as Valerie Harper's mother on "Rhoda" and as Rock Hudson's housekeeper on "MacMillian & Wife," about the range of Streep's abilities and how every person, no matter how blessed, has limits.

"Meryl Streep is so talented," Walker said.

"She could do a remake of 'The Wizard of Oz,' all on her own. At least all of the female parts. She could act [but not sing] as Dorothy, she'd do a great Auntie Em with a Kansas twang and she could play the Wicked Witch of the West without needing too much makeup, since she's got the nose for it. The only part she couldn't touch would be Toto."

Imagine what Walker would have to say if you caught Streep crooning these ABBA tunes on the big screen?

Whether on stage or on the big screen, this musical's story unfolds on a tiny Greek island.

On the eve of her wedding, Donna's daughter Sophie begins a quest to discover the identity of her father, narrowing it to three possibilities. Without telling her mother, she invites all three men from her mother's past back to the island to attend the wedding.

Some of the ABBA songs inventively transformed into the play scenes include "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes It All," "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me."

Over the years, I've seen many young actresses in the lead role of bride-to-be Sophie and I've favored some over others.

In this production Rose Sezniak is letter perfect and the ideal balance of perky, pretty and precocious.

And in the role of her mother Donna, actress Susie McMonagle also hits upon that same great blend of talent, voice and personality that connects with both the songs and the audiences, all blanketed by the apparent fun this gal is having on stage.

Of course, it's easy to have fun with her two friends and foils Tanya and Rosie, respectively, actresses Michelle Elizabeth Dawson and Kittra Wynn Coomer who bring the house down anytime they are on stage. (Kittra cooing "Take a Chance on Me" is priceless.)

As for the flies in the ointment on this Greek Isle, the role of groom Sky, played by Geoffrey Hemingway is rather bland this time around and where the levels of persona, charm and charisma come off as slender, his waist is not.

Even more so on the subject of girth, is actor Michael Aaron Lindner playing a very portly Harry "the Headbanger" Bright, who seemed to chortle through his lines.

But with the music of ABBA filling the rafters and fun costuming and on-their-toes choreography everywhere, it's easy to forgive and forget while lost in the moment of this win-win situation musical.

One final note, the orchestra at Wednesday's performance did something that was rather out in left field.

After the end of a few numbers, someone in the percussion section must have downed a couple of Red Bull energy drinks.

For some reason, long after some of these songs had ended, someone continued to tinkle on the xylophone (annoyingly) drowning out the dialogue starting on stage (and I was sitting close, mind you) and the same thing happened later with some lingering bongo drums erasing whatever I was supposed to hear before the end of the first act.

Mamma Mia!

FYI: Tickets: $30-$85 at (312) 901-1400 and ticketmaster.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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