ABBA hits are the stars of 'Mamma Mia!'

The popular musical "Mamma Mia" is once again rocking the Windy City.

The Broadway in Chicago presentation, featuring the songs of ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, opened Jan. 24 and runs through Jan. 29.

Fans of '70s and '80s tunes will no doubt enjoy the convivial score of the musical which originally opened in 1999 in London's West End. The movie, based on the hit production and starring Meryl Streep, debuted in 2008.

The storyline of "Mamma Mia!" — while trite — offers plenty of laughs and opportunities for clever scenes. The story unfolds on a Greek island where Donna Sheridan, who owns a small hotel, is preparing for the marriage of her daughter Sophie. Among invited guests for the wedding are Donna's pals from her past Tanya and Rosie. But Sophie has also invited three of her mother's former male friends in her quest to find the identity of her father. The tangled plot presents hilarious twists and turns in the tale.

While this current production of "Mamma Mia" isn't the strongest or the best in the vocal department, there are a few bright performances.

As Donna, Kaye Tuckerman's delivery of "The Winner Takes It All" was praiseworthy. The "Dancing Queen" performance finale, by Tuckerman, Alison Ewing (Tanya) and Mary Callahan (Rosie), also proved enjoyable.

Additional musical numbers featuring Ewing and Callahan were noteworthy throughout the show while the rest of the cast simply fell short in the vocal category.

The evening, however, does remind ABBA fans of all the hit music from the band's popular catalog.

After all, tunes such as "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Voulez-vous" "The Name of the Game" and "Take a Chance On Me" are the production's real stars. FYI: "Mamma Mia!" runs through Jan. 29 at The Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Tickets are $18 to $85. Call (800) 775-2000 or visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com