| Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical inspired by the | | | | haunting the stage left wing. |
| songs of the Swedish pop/dance group ABBA. In | | | | The theatre was very successful in the early |
| the story, Sophie is about to be married and | | | | years, and Bruce was able to build a second |
| wants her father to give her away. However, she | | | | theatre, the Lyric Theatre, around the corner |
| doesn't know who her father is. She reads her | | | | from the Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales |
| mother's diary and learns the identity of three | | | | started out showing only pantomimes and |
| men her mother dated before she was born. She | | | | musicals, but added non-musical plays beginning in |
| invites all three of them to the wedding, hoping to | | | | 1898. The theatre's first production was The |
| learn which man is her father in time to have him | | | | Palace of Truth, by W.S. Gilbert. The opening act |
| walk her down the aisle. | | | | for the show was a one-act comedy called In |
| Mamma Mia! has also been made into a motion | | | | Honour Bound. |
| picture starring Meryl Streep. The movie version | | | | Beginning in 1932, the theatre switched to a |
| is said to be faithful to the stage show, so people | | | | schedule comprised completely of comedians and |
| who have seen the movie and liked it are likely to | | | | risqué dancers. By 1937, these shows had |
| enjoy seeing it on stage as well. Fans of the | | | | earned enough money to pay for the demolition |
| movie who have never seen the stage show can | | | | and rebuilding of the theatre, and a much larger |
| catch it at The Prince of Wales Theatre in | | | | structure was built in its place. In the 1960's, the |
| London, where it is being shown weekly until | | | | Prince of Wales Theatre began showing |
| March 27. | | | | Broadway musicals, including Funny Girl with |
| The Prince of Wales Theatre was built in 1884 | | | | Barbra Streisand. |
| and was called the Prince's Theatre for the first | | | | Other shows that have been performed at the |
| two years. It was started and managed by Edgar | | | | Prince of Wales Theatre include Burt Bacharach's |
| Bruce, an actor and manager who used the | | | | Promises Promises in 1969 and Andrew |
| money he made from a previous show, The | | | | Lloyd-Webber's Aspects of Love starring Michael |
| Colonel, to pay for the construction of the | | | | Ball. Aspects of Love ran from 189-1992 and was |
| theatre. Some people believe that Edgar Bruce still | | | | the Price of Wales' second-longest running show. |
| hangs out at the Prince of Wales Theatre, | | | | |