Mania ABBA Tribute transports audiences back to the disco age
No matter how much flack disco got back in the ’70s, the shiny, “golden” era encouraged unbridled expression — and, according to some historians, the liberation of many marginalized societies. Though Mania ABBA Tribute doesn’t get into the socio-political side of disco, it certainly encourages audiences to let loose by breaking out their platform shoes and polyester suits, gold-lame jumpsuits, wild bell bottoms or sequin dresses Friday at Vilar Performing Arts Center.
Since Mania ABBA Tribute debuted on stage in 2000, it has been selling out venues worldwide and dazzled London’s West End for two runs. Last season, its success included a 100-date, sell-out national tour of the United States, as it ushered the music of Swedish supergroup ABBA to the stage. As the world’s No. 1 touring ABBA tribute, it has performed in more than 35 countries.
The tribute band performs about 20 of ABBA’s top songs, complete with costumes and (fake, but well-practiced) Swedish accents.
“We’ve picked the right songs that we know everybody loves,” said singer Alison Ward. “Basically, it’s a big, joyful, 2 ½ hours of an absolute blast of fun. It’s cheesy, but that’s what everybody loves. Even though we’re not the real thing, it’s like they think we are, so they’re screaming (as) they’re taken back in time. Good-old ABBA music is just very feel-good music.”
Though she jokes it’s “cheesy,” that doesn’t mean the level of musicianship is. Most of the performers have had their fair share of Broadway and touring experience, including Ward, who has been in the group for 15 years.
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Her favorite moment in the show involves singing what she calls the biggest song in the show: “The Winner Takes It All.”
“It’s quite artistic,” she said, adding that it’s also challenging to sing.
“The songs have resonated with me and mean a lot more to me through my life story. I’ve sang ‘The Winner Takes It All’ for many years, and I’ve since had a divorce, and I’ve been through love and the songs have hit harder for me. I’ve had some more poignant moments, and I’ve just grown with the show. I love everything about it. The ABBA hits themselves have become more important to me, so I would say that now my performance is definitely and a lot better because these songs are very special to me.”
She credits the original songs of ABBA for much of the tribute band’s success.
“Even when the songs are quite depressing, the way they presented them in pop, it’s still upbeat. It’s just a lot of fun more than anything for everyone on stage and off stage,” she said. “It’s something about those songs that just hit right — the rhythm and everything. It just makes everyone feel like dancing.”
The band performs the hits pretty true to the recordings, with a few twists ABBA didn’t incorporate, such as dance moves, as well as costume changes throughout the show.
“We’re trying to keep it as authentic as we can to make it feel like they’re watching the real deal,” she said. “We just come with our costumes and our music and a lot of energy, and that’s all the audience needs to have a great time. We just make sure we go out every night and give it 200%.”
The show attracts all ages and genders to bring out their inner “dancing queen,” and “take a chance” on Mania ABBA Tribute.
“You don’t need to be an ABBA fan, though I would say it helps if you know the songs, but that’s what’s great about the show. Even if someone (doesn’t know the songs), which I don’t know where they have been if they’ve never heard an ABBA song in their life, it’s so much fun because everyone’s dancing,” she said. “And, I love it when people dress up — it’s our favorite. It’s just a big party.”
