Abbacadabra
is the name of a French children's musical based on songs from the pop group ABBA, originally produced for French television in 1983 by Alain and Daniel Boublil, but which was later also transferred to an English stage version and 2 other television programs.
|
ABBACADABRA TICKETS
|
French television version
The French TV production consisted of 14 ABBA songs with new French lyrics by Alain & Daniel Boublil, and the story was based on classic
fairy tales like
Sleeping Beauty,
Cinderella,
Pinocchio,
Snow White and others. The cast was made up of children and well known French singers like
Fabienne Thibeault,
Daniel Balavoine,
Plastic Bertrand,
Maurice Barrier,
Daniel Boublil (as 'Daniel Beaufixe'),
Francoise Pourcel (as Marie Framboise),
Catherine Ferry,
Stéphane Le Navelan,
Stéphane Boublil (son of Alain),
Clémentine Autain and
Emmanuelle Pailly.
Frida from
ABBA was invited to play the part of "Belle au bois dormant" (
Sleeping Beauty), and recorded the song (a cover of ABBA's 1976 instrumental track "
Arrival") "Belle" as a duet with
Daniel Balavoine.
Abbacadabra was originally broadcast on the French TV channel
TF1 over
Christmas, 1983.
Songs
- Qu'est-ce que je vais faire plus tard / When I kissed the teacher
- Delivrés / The Visitors
- Abbacadabra / Take a chance on me
- Mon nez mon nez / Money Money
- Tête d'alumette / Super trouper
- Carabosse super show / Dancing Queen
- Imagine moi / I wonder (departure)
- Pareils et mêmes / I let the music speak
- L'enfant do / Fernando
- Lachez mes cassettes / I'm a Marionette
- Belle / Arrival
- Envoyez le générique / Thank you for the music
The London Spectacle
Cameron Mackintosh decided to produce an
English version of the TV show with lyrics by
David Wood and
Don Black.
Benny Andersson and
Björn Ulvaeus, who wrote the songs in
ABBA, contributed with one new song, "
The Seeker", and
Frida recorded "Time"; an English version of "Belle"/"Arrival" as a duet with
B. A. Robertson.
The musical premiered December 8, 1983 at the
Lyric Hammersmith theatre in London, to mixed reviews and full houses for 8 weeks, closing on
January 21,
1984. Among the actors were
Elaine Paige,
Michael Praed,
Finola Hughes, B.A. Robertson and
Jenna Russell. Elaine Paige recorded a single - a cover of ABBA's
My Love, My Life: "Like An Image Passing By".
English Songs
- Another World (Take A Chance On Me)
- Battle of The Brooms (Money, Money, Money)
- I Am The Seeker (new song)
- I Can Pull Some Strings (The Piper)
- Going Going Gone (On & On & On)
- Making Magic (Super Trouper)
- When Dreamers Close Their Eyes (Like An Angel Passing Through My Room)
- Belonging (I Let The Music Speak)
- Back Home Now (Fernando)
- Carabosse Supershow (Dancing Queen)
- Think Of Something Fast (I'm A Marionette)
- Time (Arrival)
- Like An Image Passing By (My Love, My Life)
- Thank You For The Magic (Thank You For The Music)
- Finale
Differences
The English stage version differed from the French version. The stage version had more songs, but also other roles.
The Dutch Version
A Dutch version of this musical was recorded at the end of 1984 with
José Hoebee and
Marga Scheide (of Dutch
girl group Luv') and aired on TV in 1985. Not all the songs were recorded, but the LP featured the same songs as the French Version. The album was recorded with Ron Brandsteder,
Bonnie St Claire,
Benny Neyman,
Marga Scheide,
José Hoebee,
Nico Haak,
Willem Duijn,
Bianca Folkers,
Nancy Dubbeldam &
Willem Duijn
Dutch Songs
- "Als Ik Later Groot Ben" (When I Kissed The Teacher)
- "Wij Zijn Vrij" (The Visitors)
- Abbacadabra (Take A Chance On Me)
- Me Neus, Me Neus (Money Money Money)
- Het Liedje Van Alladin (Super Trouper)
- Spiegel (I Wonder (Departure))
- De Kokende Spoken Show (Dancing Queen)
- Toen Ik Een Wolfje Was (I Let The Music Speak)
- Naar Huis Toe (Fernando)
- Geef Die Banden Terug (I'm A Marionette)
- Bij Mij (Arrival)
- Laat Het Feest Beginnen (Thank You For The Music)
Portuguese Version
A Portuguese version was also made for television.
Portuguese Songs
- Que Mal Fizemos Nós (When I Kissed The Teacher)
- O Sonho De Joao (The Visitors)
- Abbacadabra (Take A Chance On Me)
- O Nariz De Pinóquio (Money Money Money)
- Aladin Fanfarrão (Super Trouper)
- Branca De Neve E O Espelho (I Wonder (Departure))
- Rainha Má Superstar (Dancing Queen)
- Cinderela E O Soldadinho (I Let The Music Speak)
- Os Amigos (Fernando)
- Larguem A Cassete (I'm A Marionette)
- Branca De Neve E O Principezinho (Arrival)
- Não Basta Ralhar (Thank You For The Music)
Cast
Aladin : Fernando
Alice : Suzy Paula
Blanche Neige : Maria Joao
Cendrillon : Helena Ramos
Pinocchio : Nuno Gomes Dos Santos
Jose Nuno Martins,
Antonio Manuel Ribeiro,
Lenita Gentil,
Samuel,
As gemeas,
Joao et Pedro Cabeleira