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

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?

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

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Really?

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kmc

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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.

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

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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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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.