CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — For Michael Torontow, it’s a celebratory summer.
The Canadian actor is closing in on his 1,000th performance in “Mamma Mia!”.
“I don’t know what the exact number is. It’s around 945,” laughs the native of Ottawa, Ont.
And, while no big party is planned, he says, the reward is simply reaching the milestone “at some point".
“It’s a treat to play Sam in this show that marked the beginning of my career. I just don’t see myself getting sick of it,” says Torontow, who portrays one of Sophie’s possible dads in the
Charlottetown Festival production of “Mamma Mia!” at the Homburg Theatre of the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.
The musical tells the story of Donna, an independent, single mom who owns and operates a small hotel on a Greek island. She is about see her daughter, Sophie, get married. After reading her mother’s diary, Sophie secretly invites a few guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her dad to give her away, she invites three men —Sam, Bill and Harry – from Donna’s past to the Greek paradise they last visited 20 years ago.
Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and based on the songs of ABBA composed by former band members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the musical has been a 20-year journey for Torontow.
“‘Mamma Mia!’ was my first-ever professional show. I did it for the first time was on the U.S. National Tour – almost 800 times there. It was amazing, touring the United States and seeing all the big cities.”
Fast facts
- When “Mamma Mia” closes, Michael Torontow will return to Ontario to direct a production of “Into the Woods”.
- He is also doing a production of “Every Brilliant Thing” in Toronto.
- For more information, check out his website https://michaeltorontow.com/
As a young man, he performed in the ensemble and understudied Sky, Sophie’s fiancé, and Eddie, Sky’s best friend.
Now, two decades later, he’s back in the musical, entering a new generation not as an ingénue but as a father figure.
“It’s a treat to play Sam in this show that marked the beginning of my career. And I just don’t see myself ever getting sick of it.”
One thing that has helped him keep things fresh, over the years, is working with different directors.
“It gives you, as an actor, a different mindset to get in and try to find these insights…like maybe Sam doesn’t like Bill all that much because he’s tough on him in the first scene.”
Signing up Torontow for the show this summer is a “real coup” for director Adam Brazier.
“I’ve been a fan of Michael's for years, so it’s a real pleasure for me. Michael is a quintessential leading man. He walks on stage and you know who you should be in love with,” says Brazier.
At the same time, there’s a wave of “beautiful nostalgia".
“We were both in the original production of ‘Mamma Mia!’ (in 2000),” says Brazier, who played Sky in the U.S. National Tour.
Nineteen years later, Torontow likes exploring new ways of how Sam is affected by the loss of his first wife.
“Did he really love her and what was the intensity of his relationship with Donna? I don’t think I could ever be finished exploring the depths of Sam. That’s what makes it so much fun.”
He's also a relatable character.
“We should care about him because he’s a man who has gone through a life of maybe not making the greatest choices," says Torontow. "But we are all human and we all need to be loved.”
In the musical, Sam has gone for 21 years being far from the true love of his life.
“That’s all Sam wants. He thinks he’s coming to this island. He doesn’t know about Sophie. He thinks he’s been invited by the love of his life, and there’s a chance of rekindling that love. And that’s all I really care about, and so it’s a pleasure for me.”
