Good Story

There are many movies that inspired musicals, but it is a rare exception that one inspired two different shows. This exception is the American comedy Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) which tells the story of a woman who is uncertain which of her lovers is the father of her daughter - and therefore regards all three responsible. In the 1970's Joseph Stein, Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane based their musical Carmelina upon the film. The Broadway production closed after only 17 performances in April 1979. Twenty years later the British playwright Catherine Johnson was luckier. Her version of the story, enhanced by the hits of Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus, has become one of the biggest musical hits of all times: Mamma Mia!