MUSIC REVIEW: Thank You For The Music - The Adelphi Theatre, London

Music and dance are the essence of life even before speech and walking and ‘nothing can capture the heart like a melody can’.

Forty six years on from the release of the original song ‘Thank You For The Music’ by ABBA and over fifty years since the ABBA story began, this performance was the ultimate modern tribute to ABBA- set firmly in the twenty first century. It was a perfect mix of modern and vintage ABBA.

Audience participation was greatly encouraged throughout including singing ,dancing, line dancing, Swedish fingers, dividing the audience in two to compete against each other (Voulez-Vous - Ah Ha). At times the jokey narrative gave the performance a pantomime feel with many 2023 references for example-‘Money Money’ and Amazon Prime . But ‘if I tell a joke you’ve probably heard it before’

All the dancing queens were called to the party of the year to dance, jive and have the time of their life and the audience loved it.

This high energy production was well casted and the main four characters- the ABBA group of Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad , Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus -were ably accompanied by two back up vocalists, Amy Reet and Elspeth Foster. Elevated on centre stage, expert drumming by Jason Gumbley was the backbone and supported the music throughout. Harry Garbutt and Ben Hanson played backing keyboard and guitar respectively.

Frida ( Kellie Vallance ) dynamically led and introduced many of the acts and Benny ( Steve Nelson ) had a lot of fun on stage and competently swapped between instruments. The other two big personalities Björn ( Dave Miles ) and Agnetha ( Emma Parker ) completed the Swedish pop group, and the entire stage area was well used by the performers particularly in the second half.

Spectacular projections and lighting illuminated all the songs, and even the audience were invited to help create candles of light in the auditorium by putting on their mobile phone torch lights during 'Fernando'. Firework, fairground, kaleidoscope, and disco projections all created psychedelic effects to delight the audience as ABBA sang and danced.

You may have thought you were at an original ABBA concert as the colourful, eye catching costumes were as masterfully coordinated as in the 1970s with the same penchant for the dramatic. Groovy suits, bell-bottomed trousers, iconic cat outfits with long, over-the-knee white boots, super-trouper capes, disco-ready spandex suits, platform shoes, white outfits for the angelic era, and all contrasted with the black of the backing vocalists.

This show was great for all ages but especially the die-hard ABBA fans from the 1970s -‘whoever it was I’m a fan ‘ Give thanks for the music-‘I wanna sing it out to everybody, what a joy, what a life, what a chance’ and as Mother Theresa also said ‘Life is a song -sing it ‘. The roof was raised last night with powerful harmonies ,singing and joy which over-spilled into the Strand.

An unforgettable evening with a fantastic atmosphere.

‘The winner takes it all’

Thank you for the music.

Reviewer - Judith Armstrong
on - 21.11.23