by Franklin W. Liu

In 1973, Swedes Anni-Frid, Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Falskog formed the band ABBA, using their first initials to form the acronym. They quickly became one of the most commercially successful groups of the 70s, topping charts around the world.

Catherine Johnson, a British playwright, used 22 ABBA songs, composed by Anderson and Ulvaeus, to create “Mamma Mia!”—an energetic musical about youth, carefree passion, and the mistakes that inevitably follow. The show, presented by Broadway in Boston and Clear Channel Entertainment, is playing at the Colonial Theatre through Aug. 7. Written in 1997, “Mamma Mia!” premiered in London and currently has 11 on-going worldwide productions and two U.S. tours encompassing 42 cities.

“Mamma Mia!” tells the story of 20-year-old Sophie (played by Chilina Kennedy), who is planning her wedding at home on a Greek island. Her mother, Donna (Colleen Fitzpatrick), the owner of a taverna, has worked and raised Sophie by herself, never sure which of the three men she loved simultaneously 20 years ago fathered her child.

After reading her mom’s diary, Sophie becomes obsessed to find out who her father is.

Sophie, desperate for her father to accept her and walk her down the aisle, devises a clever scheme, and, using false pretenses, invites all three of her mother’s past lovers to come to the island for a vacation; no one is privy to Sophie’s secret plan. Meanwhile, Donna invites two girlfriends from her girl-group singing days to celebrate Sophie’s wedding.

Johnson has successfully combined creativity and wit to meet the peculiar challenge of sequencing many long-ago released ABBA hits into a single, coherent and engaging story.

In the opening scene, an idealistic Sophie sings, “I Have a Dream.” When reading her mom’s diary, she sings, “Honey, Honey,” and Donna follows with “Mamma Mia!” When Donna plans to open an off-shore casino, “Money, Money, Money” is the name of the song. Donna and her girlfriends remember their lively youth with “Dancing Queen.” Mother and daughter prepare for the wedding with “Slipping through My Fingers.” Sophie unravels her paternal mystery to the tune of “The Name of the Game,” leading to the song, “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” And—what else?—“I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,” makes a showing at the surprise outcome of the wedding.

Colleen Fitzpatrick, an on- and off-Broadway musical veteran, who played Donna, and Chilina Kennedy, Sophie, led the cast of 30 with poignant and artful performances.

Donna’s two gal-pals, played by Cynthia Sophiea (Tanya) and Rosalyn Rahn Kerins (Rosie), both gave superb performances, delivering many moments of merriment.

Production designer Mark Thompson has created a visually stunning and functional set, sparkling with Howard Harrison’s meticulous light-design.

Anthony Van Laast’s choreography is exuberant, lifting a plot line infused with cleverness and humor, and giving the popular ABBA songs a crucial unifying foundations.

The ensemble singing and dancing were vigorous and fun, fed by an upbeat and infectious music tempo, proving that a good song is a good song—no matter when ABBA first released it.

“Mamma Mia!” runs through Aug. 8 at the Colonial Theatre. For info call 617 931-2787.