BREDA, The Netherlands – A touring production of Mamma Mia across the Netherlands has translated hits such as "Dancing Queen" and "Voulez-Vous" into Dutch, but the music is pure Abba, heard through a traveling reinforcement system based around 32 Meyer Sound M'elodie line array loudspeakers.
The particulars of loudspeaker system configuration are the work of the production's associate sound designer, Richard Brooker, who was charged with fulfilling overall requirements set by Bobby Aitken, principal sound designer.
"I'd first used M'elodies on my design for a Spanish production of Jesus Christ Superstar," recalled Brooker. "I needed to handle a dynamic and often quite loud show, but the production had to change venues quickly. Also, in most places I could not fly the system. After much head-scratching, I went the Meyer route with M'elodies and 600-HP subs. The results were fantastic, and still are with the similar system we have for Mamma Mia."
Assistant sound designer Wibo Vermeulen also credited the M'elodies for their flexibility. He uses the Meyer Sound's MAPP Online Pro acoustical prediction program to fine-tune the system for each venue. The halls range from 875 to 2,161 seats, in various shapes and sizes, from typical "horseshoe" theatres to post-modern asymmetrical auditoriums.
"The M'elodie is adapting very well to all venues," said Vermeulen. "Because of its small size and light weight, it can be hung or stacked nearly everywhere, without compromising either sight lines or sound quality."
In larger venues, the M'elodie complement is normally configured as four arrays of eight each, covering two levels from left and right. The center vocal cluster comprises (venue dependent) as many as 14 M1D line array loudspeakers.
The complete Meyer Sound complement includes six 600-HP subwoofers, 11 UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers for foldback and fills and three MM-4XP miniature loudspeakers for downstage lip foldback. System supply came from Autograph Sound of London.
Brooker also credited the main M'elodie arrays for making the production easy to set up and energize the audience . "Yes, they are easy to rig, lightweight, and have a small footprint," said Brooker, "but the main thing is the way they sound-which is like much bigger boxes. They are clean and clear, with a smooth dynamic range that works with everything from intimate dialogue right up to full-on Abba disco pop."
The Dutch tour of Mamma Mia opened in September 2009 and will close in July 2010, playing 16 venues with seven weekly shows. Other Mamma Mia productions worldwide are using Meyer Sound systems for reinforcement, including the Spanish tour supplied by Fluge Madrid and the Australian tour by System Sound.
For more information, please visit www.meyersound.com
