'You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life…See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen…”

Mamma Mia, Honey Honey, Dancing Queen; the songs are still singing in my head. I'm sitting with a good friend in row R at Baycourt's Addison Theatre, but the songs take me back to the seventies.

Tauranga Musical Theatre's Mamma Mia definitely gets you in the mood for a dance, writes The Weekend Sun editor Zoe Hunter. Photo: Chris Parker

'Friday night and the lights are low…” Friday, September 9, to be exact – opening night of Mamma Mia. Our toes are tapping, heads bopping, and the pinot is well and truly poured. The perfect girls' night out.

The musical stages the story of a mother, a daughter, three possible dads – and a trip down the aisle you will never forget.

Under the spotlight and around a brilliant stage set, the sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. The Baycourt audience follows a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father, bringing three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

Propelling this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship are 22 of ABBA's greatest hits, including The Winner Takes It All, Take a Chance on Me, and, of course, Dancing Queen.

Tauranga Musical Theatre's Mamma Mia definitely gets you in the mood for a dance.

It's 8pm and the curtains are drawn. We see that girl Jazzy Axton on stage, we watch those scenes, and we are definitely digging the Dancing Queen. The 16-year-old playing Sophie Sheridan wasn't born in the 1970s, but was sure born to sing and dance.

Then Otumoetai College drama and singing teacher Petrina Chisholm, as Donna Sheridan, takes the stage, belting out the first ABBA anthem ‘Money, Money, Money' to a cleverly choreographed dance piece by Kelsey Andrew.

Although ABBA's songs are fun to sing along to, Petrina isn't singing karaoke. She's got some obvious singing skills and a voice that steals the show. Her enthusiasm on stage is infectious.

And a musical isn't a musical without a bit of cheesy, but tasteful, comedy. Donna's gal pals, played by Nadine Tibbits and Mandy Rowe, step into their characters with ease, sending the audience into fits of laughter and applause.

The Dancing Queen scene is one of my favourites, as Donna and the Dynamos fuss over their distressed lead, the mother-of-the-bride, and she ponders her past. Gal pal Rosie is a definite stand-out, particularly in the final scenes, where she teases Bill to ‘Take a Chance on Me' at the altar.

Cue the three possible dads: Brendon Weatherly as Harry Bright, Fraser Graham as Sam Carmichael, and Chris Traill as Bill Anderson. These three, especially Brendon, bring a sense of humour to the stage and work well as a trio under the spotlight.

Then there's the musical romance, brought to the stage by Cameron Buchanan, who plays Sophie's husband-to-be Sky. Good-looking and talented – we're sure the single ladies in the audience felt a twinge of jealousy as Sophie gets up close and personal to the hunky star.

In a finale of glittering sequins, flared pants, and platform heels, the cast celebrates by dancing to a collection of ABBA hits which gets audience off their chairs and on their feet.

A clever performance by Tauranga Musical Theatre where we danced, we jived, and we had the time of our lives. Congratulations to all cast members.

Directed by Russel Dixon, choreographed by Kelsey Andrew and musically directed by Elise Rohde, Tauranga Musical Theatre's Mamma Mia is on at Baycourt Community and Art Centre until September 24.