Review: ABBA Tribute Concert at the Grove Theatre on May 28th

Photos and Review Submitted by Dana Bachman

It was absolutely a magic night. We are all a little bit fatter and a little bit slower than we were in the 1970s, but Saturday night took us right back...there was dancing in the aisles to all the favourites. ”Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!; Dancing Queen, Chiquitta, Fernando, Voulez-vous; I Do, I Do, I Do”. Those songs were in the first half. Intermission was time to buy a local beer from the Fenelon Falls Brewery. The second half was even better...after a few beers! 

The group had done a costume change. The night lights came on, the fireflies were flitting in the spotlights and we were all encouraged to light our cell phone flashlights and wave them along with the music (just like we did with our lighters in the good old days...wonderful atmosphere). The second last song was “Thank you for the Music” as each individual musician was recognized.  We all remember the original four with their bell bottoms and platform boots. In this group there were actually 8 performers, 3 guitarists, 3 female singers, a keyboardist, a drummer. There were flashing pants on “Frida” and a sparkling white tuxedo on “Benny” the guitarist, but no big boots. “Bjorn” was on the keyboard. “Agnetah” in the second half looked amazing in an iconic white dress. We also had a mother daughter combo. “Frida” with the red hair and the blond mother in the background. 

And then BIG FINISH!!! Mamma Mia. Everyone in the audience was standing and applauding.

We ARE all a little slower than we were in 1970s so I was very glad to see that accessible seating is available, that there are now hand rails down the steps towards the stage and that there is even a little golf cart trolley, chauffeured by Bill, our Coboconk librarian, that can transport people from the parking lot right along the winding path up the hill to the Grove theatre (and back again after the show.) Thanks Bill! And thanks to Peter and Wendy Witt of Fenelon Falls Real Estate who donated that cart.

Great night, we will be back to the Glove theatre for other events, musical, drama, comedy. See you there!