''ABBAcadabra'' is a French children's

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

based on songs from the pop group

ABBA ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's ...

. It was originally produced for French television in 1983 by Alain and Daniel Boublil, but which was later also transferred to an English stage version and two other television programs. The story was not always the same as the selection of the chosen songs varied by productions.

Productions

Original French production

The French television production consisted of 12 ABBA songs with new French lyrics by Alain & Daniel Boublil, and the story was based on classic

fairy tale A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic (paranormal), magic, incantation, enchantments, and mythical ...

s like

Sleeping Beauty ''Sleeping Beauty'' (french: La belle au bois dormant, or ''The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest''; german: Dornröschen, or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess cu ...

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan vil ...

Snow White "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'' and numbered as Ta ...

and others. The cast was made up of children and well known French singers like

Fabienne Thibeault Fabienne Thibeault (born 16 June 1952 in Montreal, Quebec) is a French Canadian singer. She is particularly known for her role in Starmania. Thibeault has released numerous albums over her career. She has been the recipient of two Félix Awa ...

Daniel Balavoine Daniel Xavier-Marie Balavoine (; 5 February 1952 – 14 January 1986) was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world in the early 1980s; he inspired many singers of his generation such as Jean-Jacques Gol ...

Plastic Bertrand Roger François Jouret (born 24 February 1954), better known as Plastic Bertrand, is a Belgium, Belgian musician, songwriter, producer, editor and television presenter, best known for the 1977 international hit single "Ça plane pour moi". Bi ...

Maurice Barrier Maurice Barrier (8 June 1932 – 12 April 2020) was a French actor and singer. Biography Barrier was the son of a cabinetmaker, and had his first job working in his father's workshop. While in Rennes at age 28, he met several resident actors at t ...

, Daniel Boublil (as 'Daniel Beaufixe'), Francoise Pourcel (as Marie Framboise), Catherine Ferry, Stéphane Le Navelan, Stéphane Boublil (son of Alain),

Clémentine Autain Clémentine Autain (; born 26 May 1973) is a French politician and journalist who has represented the 11th constituency of the Seine-Saint-Denis department in the National Assembly since 2017. She is a member of La France Insoumise (LFI). Aut ...

and Emmanuelle Pailly.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad Princess Anni-Frid Synni Reuss, Countess of Plauen (born Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad on 15 November 1945), also known by her nickname "Frida", is a Norwegian-born Swedish singer, songwriter and environmentalist, who is best known as one of the foun ...

, also known as "Frida", from

was invited to play the part of "Belle au bois dormant" (

), and recorded the song "Belle" (a cover of ABBA's 1976 instrumental track "

Arrival Arrival(s) or The Arrival(s) may refer to: Film * ''The Arrival'' (1991 film), an American science fiction horror film * ''The Arrival'' (1996 film), an American-Mexican science fiction horror film * ''Arrival'' (film), a 2016 American science ...

") as a duet with

. Abbacadabra was originally broadcast on the French TV channel

TF1 TF1 (; standing for ''Télévision Française 1'') is a French commercial television network owned by TF1 Group, controlled by the Bouygues conglomerate. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network. TF1 is par ...

over

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

in 1983. A

soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' ...

, entitled ''ABBAcadabra: Conte musical,'' featuring songs and narration from the production, was produced in 1983 as well. According to liner notes on the album cover, arrangements and musical direction were provided by Raymond Donnez and production by Alain Boublil with assistance by Raymond Donnez, Daniel Boublil, and Françoise Pourcel. The album was released by WEA Filipacchi Music in France and WEA Music of Canada in Québec. The album spawned several single releases in France, including "Mon Nez Mon Nez" by

, "L'Enfant Do" by Stéphane Boublil, and the

Frida ''Frida'' is a 2002 American biographical drama film directed by Julie Taymor which depicts the professional and private life of the surrealist Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Starring Salma Hayek in an Academy Award–nominated portrayal as Kahl ...

and

duet "Belle," which also saw release outside France in a few European countries and Canada.

French musical numbers

* Qu'est-ce que j'vais faire plus tard (What I'm gonna do later) / When I Kissed the Teacher * Délivrés / The Visitors (Crackin' Up) * Abbacadabra / Take a Chance on Me * Mon nez mon nez (My nose my nose) / Money Money Money * Tête d'allumette (Match head) / Super Trouper * Imagine-moi (Imagine me) / I Wonder (Departure) * Carabosse super show / Dancing Queen * Pareils et mêmes (Same and same) / I Let the Music Speak * L'enfant do (Children do) / Fernando * Lâchez mes cassettes (Let go of my tapes) / I'm a Marionette * Belle (Beautiful) / Arrival * Envoyez le générique (Send the theme song) / Thank You for the Music

Original London production

Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...

decided to produce a live-action

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

stage version of the TV show with lyrics by David Wood,

Mike Batt Michael Philip Batt, LVO (born 6 February 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, record producer, director and conductor. He was formerly the Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry. Having achieved substantial ...

, and Don Black.

Benny Andersson Göran Bror Benny Andersson (; born 16 December 1946) is a Swedish musician, singer, composer and producer best known as a member of the musical group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess'', '' Kristina från Duvemåla'', and '' Mamma M ...

and

Björn Ulvaeus Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (; born 25 April 1945) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, producer, a member of the musical group ABBA, and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess'', '' Kristina från Duvemåla'', and '' Mamma Mia!'' He co-produced the films ...

, who wrote the songs in

, contributed with one new song, " (I Am) The Seeker." The musical premiered 8 December 1983 at the

Lyric Hammersmith The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street, Hammersmith, London.

theatre in London, to mixed reviews and full houses for 8 weeks, closing on 21 January 1984. Among the actors were

Elaine Paige Elaine Jill Paige (née Bickerstaff; born 5 March 1948) is an English singer and actress, best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Paige attended the Aida Foster Theatre School, making her first professiona ...

Michael Praed Michael Praed ( ; born 1 April 1960), birth name Michael David Prince, is a British actor and narrator, probably best remembered for his role as Robin of Loxley in the British television series ''Robin of Sherwood'', which attained cult status ...

Nigel Harman Nigel Derek Harman (born 11 August 1973) is an English actor, best known for his role as Dennis Rickman in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He has worked mostly in theatre. He starred in the final series of '' Hotel Babylon ...

Finola Hughes Finola Hughes (born 29 October 1959) is an English actress, best known for her role as Anna Devane on the ABC soap operas ''General Hospital'' and ''All My Children'', and her portrayal of Laura in the 1983 film '' Staying Alive'', the sequel ...

BA Robertson Brian Alexander Robertson (born 12 September 1956) is a Scottish musician, composer and songwriter. He had a string of hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s characterised by catchy pop tunes and jaunty humorous lyrics, including " Knocked It ...

, and

Jenna Russell Jenna Russell (born 5 October 1967) is an English actress and singer. She has appeared on the stage in London in both musicals and dramas, as well as appearing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She performed the role of Dot in ''Sunday in the ...

. A couple of singles were released from the show in several European countries. These were produced and arranged by

. One featured Elaine Paige's recording of "Like An Image Passing By," a cover of ABBA's My Love, My Life, with a B side of Finola Hughes singing "When Dreamers Close Their Eyes". Another single (also released in Australia) paired

and B. A. Robertston singing "Time," an English version of "Belle"/"Arrival," with Robertson solo on the B-side singing "I Am The Seeker".

English musical numbers

* Another World (

Take A Chance On Me "Take a Chance on Me" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA, released in January 1978 as the second single from their fifth studio album, '' ABBA: The Album'' (1977). Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad share the lead vocals on the verses an ...

) * Battle of The Brooms (

Money, Money, Money "Money, Money, Money" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with Anni-Frid Lyngstad singing lead vocals. It was released on 1 November 1976, as the second single from their fourth album, '' ...

) * (I Am) The Seeker (new song) * I Can Pull Some Strings ( The Piper) * Going Going Gone (

On and On and On "On and On and On" is a pop song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released as a single in a limited number of countries in 1980 as the second single from their seventh studio album, ''Super Trouper (album), Super Trouper''. Backgroun ...

) * 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 Fernando is a Spanish and Portuguese given name and a surname common in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, former Spanish or Portuguese colonies in Latin America, Africa, the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka. It is equivalent to the G ...

) * Carabosse Supershow (

Dancing Queen "Dancing Queen" is a Europop and disco song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus al ...

) * Think Of Something Fast ( I'm A Marionette) * Time (

) * Like An Image Passing By ( My Love, My Life) * Thank You For The Magic (

Thank You For The Music "Thank You for the Music" is a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally featured on the group's fifth studio album, '' The Album'' (1977), and was released as a double-A sided single with "Eagle" in May 1978 in limited territories ...

) * Finale

Other productions

Dutch production

A Dutch version of this musical was recorded at the end of 1984 with

José Hoebee Josina van de Wijdeven (born 29 March 1954), known as José Hoebee, is a Dutch pop singer. She was a member of Luv', a famous Dutch girl group in the late 1970s and early 1980s that scored hits in more than 15 countries. In late 1981, she went ...

and

Marga Scheide Margareth "Marga" Scheide (born 15 February 1954 in Amsterdam, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer and former Model (person), model. She was a member of the girl group Luv'. Alongside Patty Brard and José Hoebee, she scored a string of international ...

(of Dutch

girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of who ...

Luv' Luv' were a Dutch girl group that scored a string of hit records in Continental Europe (Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Spain, Denmark, Norway and Finland) as well as Israel, South Africa, Rhodesia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada ...

) and aired on TV in 1985. Not all the songs were recorded, but the album released in Belgium on the Indisc label, featured the same songs as the French version. The album was recorded with Ron Brandsteder,

Bonnie St. Claire Bonnie St. Claire (born Bonje Cornelia Swart, 18 November 1949) is a Dutch singer and actress who has a recording history that began in the 1960s and went through to the 1990s. She was part of the trio Bonnie, Debbie & Rosy, and part of the duo ...

Benny Neyman Wilhelmus Albertus "Benny" Neyman (9 June 1951 in Maastricht, Netherlands - 7 February 2008 in Soesterberg, Netherlands) was a Dutch singer. Biography Neyman was born in Limburg. In the beginning of the 1970s, he took a course at Kleinkunst Aca ...

, Nico Haak, Willem Duijn, Bianca Folkers, & Nancy Dubbeldam. The

frame story A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (con ...

is that an evil 'video

fairy A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, ...

' wants to ban and imprison the figures of the Fairy Tale on a

videotape Videotape is magnetic tape used for storing video and usually sound in addition. Information stored can be in the form of either an analog or digital signal. Videotape is used in both video tape recorders (VTRs) and, more commonly, videocassett ...

= Dutch musical numbers

= * "Als Ik Later Groot Ben" (When I grow up) (When I Kissed The Teacher) * "Wij Zijn Vrij" (We are free) ( The Visitors (Cracking Up)) * Abbacadabra (

) ''

'' * Me Neus, Me Neus (My nose, my nose) ( Money Money Money) ''

'' * Het Liedje Van Alladin (The song of Aladdin) ( Super Trouper) ''

Aladdin Aladdin ( ; ar, علاء الدين, ', , ATU 561, ‘Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with ''The Book of One Thousand and One Nights'' (''The Arabian Nights''), despite not being part of ...

'' * Spiegel (Mirror) (I Wonder (Departure)) ''

'' * De Kokende Spoken Show (Cooking ghosts show) (

) * Toen Ik Een Wolfje Was (When I was a wolfie) (I Let The Music Speak) ''

Big Bad Wolf The Big Bad Wolf is a fictional wolf appearing in several cautionary tales that include some of ''Grimms' Fairy Tales.'' Versions of this character have appeared in numerous works, and it has become a generic archetype of a menacing predatory a ...

'' * Naar Huis Toe (Homewards) (

) * Geef Die Banden Terug (Give back those tapes) (I'm A Marionette) ''The evil video fairy'' * Bij Mij (With me) (Arrival) ''

'' * Laat Het Feest Beginnen (Let the party begin!) (

)

Portugal production

A Portuguese version was also made for television, adapted into Portuguese by Nuno Gomes dos Santos, and an album released in 1984 on the Orfeu record label in Portugal.

= Portuguese songs

= * Que Mal Fizemos Nós (What wrong have we done) (When I Kissed The Teacher) * O Sonho De Joao (John's Dream) (The Visitors) * Abbacadabra (Take A Chance On Me) * O Nariz De Pinóquio (Pinocchio's Nose) (Money Money Money) * Aladin Fanfarrão (Aladdin's fanfare) (Super Trouper) * Branca De Neve E O Espelho (Snow White And The Mirror) (I Wonder (Departure)) * Rainha Má Superstar (Evil Queen Superstar) (Dancing Queen) * Cinderela E O Soldadinho (Cinderella And The Soldier) (I Let The Music Speak) * Os Amigos (The friends) (Fernando) * Larguem A Cassette (Let Go Of The Cassette) (I'm A Marionette) * Branca De Neve E O Principezinho (Snow White And The Little Prince) (Arrival) * Não Basta Ralhar (Takes More Than Scolding) (Thank You For The Music)

= Portuguese cast

= *Aladino : Fernando *Alice : Suzy Paula *Blanca de Neve : Maria João *Cinderela: Helena Ramos *Pinóquio : Nuno Gomes dos Santos *Locutor : José Nuno Martins *Principezinho : Antonio Manuel Ribeiro *Raínha Má : Lenita Genti *Soldadinho : Samuel *Ana e Joana : As Gémeas *João e Pedro : João e Pedro Cabeleira *Rosas : Inês Martins, Teresa Marta e Isabel Campelo, Vanda e Ana Carvalho *Cravos e Metralhas : Zé da Ponte, Luis de Freitas e Nuno Gomes dos Santos

References

External links

* (defunct?) http://philippe.benabes.free.fr/abbacadabra/ *ABBA-The Albums "ABBAcadabra" page http://felpin80.tripod.com/ata/acadab.html * ABBA France&Belgique "ABBAcadabra" page http://abba.discographie.france.over-blog.com/tag/abbacadabra/ {{ABBA Jukebox musicals Musical television specials ABBA 1983 musicals