Mary Poppins Stage Musical

[Leverandon]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:58pm

Has anyone seen the Mary Poppins stage musical? I've loved the movie since I was a little and was always disappointed that there was no stage version of the movie.

Is the London production any good? Are there any new/different songs?

[kec]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:34am

I'm seeing it Easter Weekend, the end of March... I'll share some thoughts after that.

I will say, though, that a friend of mine saw it and enjoyed it very much.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 5:39am

I saw it in it's out-of-town tryout in September and thought it was great. Whatever you do, DO NOT expect the movie on stage - it's darker than the film as they've brough a lot more from the books in, but there's still magic when it's needed. However, the main thrust of the narrative does focus more on the problems within the family which some people (esp. younger children) have found a little dull.
The dance routines are a knock-out, especially in Supercalifragilistc... and Step in Time though I thought that Jolly Holiday - now transported to a park with living statues - was the a bit of a low point in the show. Alongside the familiar Sherman brothers tunes there are some new songs by Stiles and Drewe (who also wrote Honk! and a beautiful Peter Pan) which are usually effective. Practically Perfect and Anything Can Happen are particularly good.

The physical production is as brilliant as you'd expect from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, from the huge house set to the more simple (but equally effective) roof tops and chimneys of London. I'd definately recommended seeing it!

The CD is released at the end of March and can be order below
Dress Circle

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 7:29am

If interested, do a search of my (mini) review of it. I think I called the subject line PRATICALLY IMPERFECT IN EVERY WAY. I hated it, and I was not expecting the film.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 9:01am

We saw M.P. a couple of weeks ago and would sum it up as a mixed bag. Act TWO is stunning but you have to sit through Act ONE to get there!! The performances are great, the musical numbers and generally excellent and the production over all is STUNNING however it is still a bit disjointed especially in Act ONE. Additional elements from the books are added in and it does feel you just jump from one "adventure" to another. I agree that JOLLY HOLIDAY is a big disappointment but STEP IN TIME makes up for it big time! LAURA MICHELLE KELLY is wonderful as Mary with the most perfect voice. Her first number PRACTICALLY PERFECT is absolutely PERFECT and as good as any of the original songs (I think anyway????). The show takes itself very seriously which takes a bit of getting used to however the emotional climax makes it all come together in the end - with a superb final exit from Mary! Definitely worth the trip to LONDON!