HOW do you solve a problem like Mary Poppins (spoilers)

[deena]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:46pm

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially since so many of you have already bought tickets for this charmless musical. But, i went all the way to london just to see this and was utterly disappointed. There is no "magic" in this show and it is directed and choreographed so amateurishly. PLEASE don't go in with any type of expectations from the movie or you will be crushed. From her 1st appearance ( and not even flown in) this show just drags on and is a bore. The context of the songs from the movie take on an entierly different meaning in this stage adaptation. Not only is the show darker, it's just not any fun. Mary becomes part of an ensemble of players and was played woodenly by Kellys replacement. I kept thinking that perhaps the American cast can help the show, but methinks not. It's the way the piece has been directed and miserbly choreogrpahed that accounts for most of the problems. I imagine they're bringing the same team over, and thats a big mistake ! And the import of Gavin Lee baffles me. He's nothing but a 2nd rate chorus boy who landed a larger part. I can only imagine someone like Noah Racey in the role as he has much more ability , talent and charm. The STEP IN TIME number is a mish mosh of a tap dance, and Lees tapping around the proscenium ( suspended by two very big wires) is nothing too spectatcular. What is it with all the flying in these British shows? The one place they needed it was for THIS show and they barely employ it. With Bob Crowley (Tarzan) as designer its amazing they didnt even attempt to fly away the nannies (then again, this scene is omitted from this production). I won't gone on much more ( but i sure could) as i know most of you are excited as i was to see this. How could Disney get THIS one soooo wrong?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:52pm

You have GOT to be kidding me.

I saw this when I was in London and I remember that night as one of the greatest theatrical experiences I have ever had. I've never experienced so much joy in a theater. It was one of the most magical evenings of my life and brought me so much of my childhood back that it was astonishing.

To each his own, I suppose.

I think this will be a huge hit here. Deservingly.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:52pm

Updated On: 5/29/06 at 11:52 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:52pm

Yikes. Triple post.

Updated On: 5/29/06 at 11:52 PM

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:59pm

??????????

Really?

??????????


kmc

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:03am

I hear major changes are planned for the Broadway production.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:15am

Capn, some things need to change. There are a few things that seem okay with cultural standards there but not here and could be changed, especially when Mary punishes the children. It's all a tad too frightening for American children, I think.

Otherwise, it's a beautiful production with very wonderful performances. Gavin is extraordinary.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:15am

Let's also take note that deena joined TODAY. To bash the show, perhaps?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:17am

The show was amazing, I could not disagree more with that review

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:18am

Greeeat.

I never wanted to see this show. Really, I didn't. But, school takes us to London, and we, being innocent 16 and 17 year olds, cannot handle anything but Mary Poppins. Nevermind that, while in England, we will be studying Titus Andronicus, oh no... anything more mature than Mary Poppins would not be appropriate for us.

I was hoping that, in spite of my unwillingess to go, it might be enjoyable.

Who knows? Maybe I will end up liking it. But I hate hearing news like this, especially when it's a show I'm forced to see. It is comforting to see that some people have arrived to defend the show. Maybe I will enjoy it. I hope I will.

Updated On: 5/30/06 at 12:18 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:23am

I defend the show too... I thought it was great from beginning to end - very impressed and charmed by it.

I love how deena is making it sound like she's the first to see the musical and let the whole world know how disappointing it is - it is really a good show.

[Overthewall]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:31am

I love ther show how it is now! I don't want them to get rid of some of my favorite numbers. I love Temper Temper! which seems to be the one that American's seem to be having a difficult time with. I love it! but that could just be me growing up watching horror movies at a very young age. I also love the Brimstone and Treacle scenes.

But than again, this is just one man's opinion, and Disney will do what Disney will do!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 12:59am

loudasthehelliwant, don't be a teenage idiot and take the word of some ONE person who posts a scaborous review on a theater forum. I saw the show (as, you will note, every other person who has posted so far) and enjoyed the heck out of it.

Someone got up on the wrong side of the Atlantic today and decided to dump on a mega hit (which, if there are problems will probably be ironed out before Broadway).

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 1:18am

Folks, the changes to this show aren't as drastic as you all are thinking. I think everyone who's worried will be surprised. You must remember Walt Disney killed off Bambi's mother and Simba's father (rather graphically I might add.) We're not a company that is dark averse or anything, a few frightening dolls is really nothing when compared to some of the dark moments in Disney films and other Disney shows.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 1:23am

The Disney animation team (and Walt himself) killed off Bambi's mother. Not Disney Theatricals.

After the disaster of TARZAN, I wouldn't put any amount of bad taste past them - but I'm hoping POPPINS is extraordinary.

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 1:29am

You are correct about Disney's animators and Walt having a hand in Bambi's mother's death. But what about Mufasa? Just remember that Tom Schumacher was the executive producer of The Lion King. I'm very confident for Poppins. Tarzan is a travesty though.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 1:30am

It would be hard to tell Disney that a musical doing 95% business is a disaster. Artistically, perhaps a letdown (although it was an interesting experiment) but at 95%, it a big whomping hit.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 1:30am

Tarzan was unfortunate. However, I find Disney to normally have wonderful taste. I've always had a fond heart for BATB even though it's gotten stale over the years. TLK was a beautifully directed piece of theater. AIDA wasn't a masterpiece but was an enjoyable show.

About the "Brimstone and Treacle" sequence - I didn't really find this all that inappropriate.

I think the runtime of the show is a little too long for children's attention spans. Here in America at least... I don't know about in England. I could definately see 4 and 5 year old starting to get antsy and having a hard time getting through the show.

The "Temper, Temper" scene would've been fine with the dolls if they weren't doing certain things. Toy soldiers shooting at little children on stage is a tad... much. Some of it is a little too much and could really be fixed. But the number could stay with the same kind of idea behind it.

Really a beautiful production though. I'm looking forward to it - oh, if only Ashley wasn't playing Poppins!

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:25am

Deena, I agree with you. I was also horribly disappointed with the show. The new songs are AWFUL and the entire production had the feeling of a technically upgraded panto. The choreography was particularly ghastly and while the mostly replacement cast was game, there were no standouts. With this material there couldn't be. On Broadway, I think it will suffer a similar fate to Chitty - i.e. kids will love it and their parents will not.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 2:40am

While CHITTY was not a great show, I loved every second of it.

Sure, the unimpressive dance segments were unnecessary and boring, but I thought that CHITTY was the first family friendly show in years that was enjoyable for both adults and children - as the ever wise John Simon pointed out.

Sure, it was sugar-coated and slightly lame, but I saw it 3 times (3 times for free, but still) and I loved it all three times. Thank God for Jan Maxwell!

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 4:55am

Yes, Mary Poppins is one of my favorite musicals ever, but the comments that the choreography is amateur really baffle me: the spelling out of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, the beautiful ballet of the statues in Jolly Holiday, and the incredible tap dancing of Step in Time are, imo, not to be missed.

And whoever said that the new music is awful needs to listen to the cast recording again - Practically Perfect, Being Mrs Banks, Anything Can Happen and Brimstone and Treacle are brilliant pieces that fit in beautifully with the original songs.

And Gavin Lee is a star.

Mary P x

[algy]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 5:24am

"I think the runtime of the show is a little too long for children's attention spans. Here in America at least... I don't know about in England. I could definately see 4 and 5 year old starting to get antsy and having a hard time getting through the show."

I don't know whether the same instructions will stand in the US or not, but in the UK the show is marketed as not suitable for under 7s and under 3s won't be admitted. This did cause some consternation at opening, but presumably it was because of the darker tone of the show, and possibly the run time.

I saw Mary last summer, with Laura Michelle Kelly, and whilst it wasn't the best thing that I've seen, it was by no means the worst. I can't remember how any of the new songs sounded off the top of my head (but then I'm at a distance now) but I didn't feel motivated to buy the OCR (though I may at some point and then I may change my mind). I can remember the set, but I couldn't tell you about some of the dance routines if that makes sense. I'd probably go and see it again, but not at full price (though I'd want better seats that I had before - stage right of the stalls near the back - we could see fine, but I feel that its one of those shows you appreciate better centrally). Really the thing I liked most about it was the set!

I don't think that it'd done as well over here as Disney were expecting. When the Lion King opened, it was booked out for years - my sister and I were given a trip to see the Lion King for Christmas 2000, and the first Saturday we could get 4 decent tickets to see it was December 22 2001 (!) - and Mary is easier to get tickets to than that.

I hope it does well on Broadway, but I don't think the existing show is going to be a Mega-hit, although it will be a hit.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 6:12am

I'm shocked that people are so amazed by a bad review for POPPINS. A lot of people don't like this show, myself included. It's three hours long for goodness sake! I found it unbelievably boring. I will, however, defend the choreography, which I was thought was fab. The design was nice, too. It's the book and the story and the new songs that are so awfully dreary. And those creepy, creepy statues. Blech!

It is not a big smash hit in London, surprisngly (you can walk up to the box office pretty much any night you want and get tickets), and you'd better bet Disney will be taking no chances on this one after the TARZAN debacle. Look for them to take control away from Mackintosh entirely and turn it into something safer and more commercial.

TT

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 6:15am

what i loved about the show (& what im afraid is going to be cut from the broadway verson) was that it *WAS* more true to the original books than the movie.
I enjoyed the movie all my life, but when i read the books as an adult, i was suprised to find they had so much depth & mysticism (& yes, darkness) to them. PL Travers, the author, was a student of eastern religions & you can see traces of hindu, buddhist & even pagan thought in her books...none of which made it to the movie.
I was thrilled with the London show because it brought these elements back into the story, & i thought it was genius how it blended them with the original Sherman Brothers songs to kind of "cut" the sugar levels.

[cate_w]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 7:06am

I must totally disagree with the bad review. I saw Mary Poppins in London last week and I thought it was a lot of fun! In started off slowly, but after 20 minutes, I became enthralled. My mother, stepfather, and I (a 24-year old) all loved it. Everyone around me, children and adults alike seemed to love it as well. A man sitting next to me who was rather crochety before the show started was smiling and laughing during the whole show, and was then very nice- the show worked its magic.
I was beaming for at least an hour afterwards because it made me so happy. The sets and choreography were amazing. And I love the changes they made to the story (although I didn't really love Temper Temper). I can't wait to see it again when it makes it to Broadway.