ON THEATER: ABBA dabblers break into song

Mama mia, look who’s coming to Laguna Beach.

You can turn back the clock, musically, next weekend, when the No Square Theater mounts its 11th annual winter concert, this one entitled “ABBAsolutely Fabulous.”

That’s right, the Swedish pop music group from the 1970s and early ’80s — retired for more than a quarter of a century — still looms large, thanks in no small measure to the hit movie version of “Mamma Mia,” that featured an entire ABBA score.

The local concert, planned for Feb. 6 and 7 in Laguna Beach High School’s Artists’ Theater, is the brainchild of longtime local favorite Saif Eddin, who conceived, wrote and is directing the show.

Eddin, a globally traveled performer and director who understudied Michael Crawford in his “Phantom of the Opera” days, returns to California to helm this special event.

The cast of professional volunteer guest artists and local amateurs includes Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda, Amber Charton, Carol Robinson, Debbie Meeker, Ginger Hatfield, Regina Hartley, Toni Duncun and Yvonne Browning.

Director Eddin is among a handful of reunited cast members from the original 1992 production of Lagunatics. Others include Bree Burgess, Kim Goodrich and Rufino Cabang.

Broadway’s Kathi Gillmore, who charmed Laguna audiences as Nancy in “Oliver” at the Laguna Playhouse, will be on hand, as will Kevin Koelbl, who played Captain Von Trapp in No Square’s staged sing-along, “The Sound of Music.” Fresh from playing Maria in the latter show, in Costa Mesa, will be Adriana Sanchez, one of Orange County’s premier singer-actresses.

Completing the cast are Candice M. Clasby, Melissa Deihl, Rob Harryman and Savannah Graf, the latter a freshman at Laguna High.

Audiences will be treated to ABBA hits such as “Super Trouper,” as well as lesser-known numbers like “Anthem” and “I Know Him So Well” from the musical “Chess,” written by members of the pop group in later years.

“Pat Kollenda will whip the audience into shape for the experience” with some sing-alongs, Burgess promised. “You can count on a lighthearted romp under the mirror ball.”

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.