Mary Poppins Broadway - Alterations? — Page 2

"You cant handle Temper, Temper"

Kindly do not make assumptions that Americans can't take a darker version of a much-beloved film. I know of several Americans, myself included, who saw the show in the West End and loved it all, even TEMPER TEMPER.

SMaxie, don't forget the Evil Queen in Snow White.

Updated On: 9/2/06 at 02:56 AM

Back to the subject at hand. I am quite concerned about Mary Poppins the Musical, not only about the possible alterations but I can't help but keep thinking of Chitty and the eventual fate of that musical. Fingers crossed for Ashley and Gavin!

As long as there are no cherry pickers and flying monkeys, I think we'll be fine.

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I don't think it's a matter of "dumbing it down" for American audiences. It just seems odd to have this sort of dark wierd show, and then segue into these cheerful Disney songs. It's well and good to say that this show had to courage to go back to the tone of the original books, but they didn't have the "courage" to jettison the movie songs in their pursuit of Travers' original vision. You have these 2 warring shows on the stage, and it makes for a strange evening out.

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I find it absolutely amazing how people don't understand the show or don't like it..I mean the srory is simple and all the songs fit in, it's a very hearte warming show amazingly done!...the only number that I would agree is a bit strange is "jolly holiday". Mary Poppins is one of the shows that has loads of magic especially for who has grown up loving the movie...I think people should take it just as it is, all the new songs are fabulous with amazing coreography! Every time I go and see it people leave the theater very happy and touched by it!!

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And zerodanny, congratulations for joining the board so recently!

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mmmmmmmm...

well I have my opinion on the show!!...I just can't see anything wrong in the show(appart from "jolly holiday") and I am sure ashley brown will be fabulous in it!!

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Well, Broadway.com says they are definitely keeping elements from the P.L. Travers books that will be new to audiences, but they're cutting and tweaking stuff for an American audience. Interesting. Kind of a contradiction.

Well, it'll be interesting to see what happens.

on another note, I just want to mention how much I love the Prince Edward Theatre.

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From what I have read, P L Travers hated the Disney film and exasperated the company execs during its production with constant demands for changes and different interpretations. She was only grudgingly given a last minute invitation to the premiere. Even after the film's premiere she was demanding that the animated sequences be cut - only to be told that 'the boat had sailed'.

I read an interview with Cameron Mackintosh where he acknowledged that although everyone loves the Disney film and loves its songs, he tried to preserve P L Travers' vision of the character of Mary Poppins; hence her starchier harder image in the stage adaptation. I understand that Cameron Mackintosh actually had face to face meetings with her in the early 90s when trying to prise the rights from her to create the musical - he definitely got to hear what she wanted!

Having seen the show, I thought it a clever fusion of Disney's and P L Travers vision of the Mary Poppins character. There are new songs in the vein of the film and others in the vein of the books; hence 'Temper Temper'. If there is any question of that being cut (I am only a theatregoer and not 'in the know') I don't think its anything to do with US audiences not being able to 'handle it' or needing to 'dumb it down' - I think its more of a case of aligning the show with the film for Disney. There was quite a bit of criticism in the UK about the 'frightening' parts for young children when it opened; I can quite understand Disney not wanting to get pilloried for that in the US where I imagine they are even more protective of their brand as selling very family-orientated entertainment.

By the way, Pamela Travers was an Australian who covered up her nationality in the UK. She was snobbish and a bit haughty - just like her vision of her famous creation!