S.O.S.! Everyone in the theater is singing along to 'Mamma Mia!'

Julie Walters, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski in Universal Pictures' Mamma Mia! - 2008

Pop Machine just attended a Friday matinee of "Mamma Mia! The Sing-Along Edition," and here are five things we learned:

1. Belting out Abba songs in a theater with 15 other people may make you feel like a lone (howling) wolf. Did they not dig my falsetto on "Money Money Money"?

2. Most Abba songs are not keyed to male singers. Join in on "The Winner Takes It All" at your own risk.

3. For many folks, "Sing-Along" means "Mouth-Along" or--once Pop Machine got the hand-slapping party going during "Dancing Queen"--"Clap-Along."

4. Theaters should crank the volume higher than the AMC River East had it, if only to provide cover for the Pierce Brosnan or Julie Walters sound-alikes among us.

5. A bigger (nighttime) crowd and beverage service would help. A lot.

Sing-along versions of old musicals (“Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music,” “White Christmas”) have become popular draws at theaters such as the Music Box—which has “Sing-Along Little Mermaid” running Friday through Sept. 1­—but now Universal is taking a chance on a new one.

Yes, “Mamma Mia! The Sing-Along Edition” will open Aug. 29 nationwide, including at nine Chicago-area theaters (among them River East, Webster Place and Cantera), all for the regular admission price. The lyrics will appear on the screen, and you can croon along to those catchy Abba songs.

As a bonus, the dude bellowing in the row behind you probably won’t sound any worse than Pierce Brosnan.

P.S. If you go, please tell us about your sing-along "Mamma Mia!" experience.

Test Your Vocal Skills

Honey Honey

Lay All Your Love On Me

Mamma Mia


The Winner Takes It All

Dancing Queen