Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight! EDIT-Reviews!- Page 2
Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight! EDIT-Reviews!
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#25
Posted: 10/13/06 at 11:15pm
Previews begin tomorrow night! Best of luck to the cast and crew!
The official website has been updated, check it out as http://www.marypoppins.com
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Featured Actor Joined: 7/18/06
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#26
Posted: 10/14/06 at 7:10amWell...just as I thought!..Ashley really looks Practically Perfect!!! Best of luck to all the cast!!
Joined: 12/31/69
Broadway Star Joined: 9/8/04
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#30
Posted: 10/14/06 at 2:02pmAshley Brown looks remarkably like Laura Michelle Kelly on the Playbill site. I wonder if that was done on purpose or it was a coincidence.
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#31
Posted: 10/14/06 at 2:24pmI'll be there on the 28th at the matinee and can't wait!
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#32
Posted: 10/14/06 at 10:52pmI wonder how the first preview went. If anyone was there, PLEASE post your thoughts! What changes did they make?
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
Leading Actor Joined: 10/3/06
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#33
Posted: 10/14/06 at 10:54pmI saw tickets for tonight on www.tixx.com for $50.00 but im broke these days i cant afford a pretzel....lol did anyone go?
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#34
Posted: 10/14/06 at 11:09pmthis is one of my favorite movies and I am so excited to see the show. I am seeing it on the 24th and I definately think it will be a wonderful evening!
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#35
Posted: 10/14/06 at 11:28pmHow'd it go? Did Disney soap it up? Were the actors good? Any tech problems? Could this be Disney's first show that actually has a good score and book?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#36
Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:12am
Beauty and the Beast has a great score and a decent book.
The director just let them down, but it still pleases the audience.
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#37
Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:14am
I don't care for the new songs. Only the Menken and Ashman ones and the book never impressed me, so in my opinion, it had about 50% good score and a rehash of a book.
Oh, if only Howard Ashman had lived longer.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#38
Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:21amI posted the first preview song list in the other thread. I did not go to the show, just passed by.
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#39
Posted: 10/15/06 at 1:47am
Warning - SPOILERS AHEAD.
I saw this show tonight. Seats C 10 and 12 in the orchestra which ended up being amazing seats. They were second row, on the sides, but we could see everything amazingly well.
The show started and about ten minutes in, there were some technical difficulties and teh show had to be stopped for about 15 minutes. However, by the end of the show, I had forgotten there were any problems at all.
I loved this show. Having seen all the Disney productions save for Lion King, I can honestly say this is my favorite by a long shot.
Ashley Brown is perfectly cast. She does an amazing job with the role of Mary Poppins. Her voice is crystal clear and pure and it is a blessing to the ears. I have heard her on the "On The Record" soundtrack but that doesn't do her gorgeous voice justice at all. She looked the part and her acting was fabulous. She was sassy and sweet and stern all at the same time. When she left at the end, I really didn't want her to go. She brought Mary Poppins to life. I am really hoping she scores a Tony nom for this because she shines in this role.
Gavin Lee was also great. He has a great voice and while I was very focused on Brown, he had that sweetness and likeability factor that makes Bert so fun to watch. His voice was great and I was impressed by him - I can see why he was such a hit in the London production.
I actually think that the whole cast was outstanding.
The kids were played by Henry Hodges and Katharine Doherty tonight. Katharine was outstanding, vocally. I was extremely impressed by how strong her voice was and Henry really had the comedic timing down pat.
Rebecca Luker and Daniel Jenkins had great chemistry. He was a great patriarch to the family and she was an excellent and poised Mrs. Banks. The whole cast really seemed to gel. Very believable.
Mark Price is underused in this. He plays Robertson Ay, the bumbly servant, but while he has a lot of stage time, he has no songs of his own and does very little.
Ruth Gotschall plays the "Holy Terror" - MR. Banks old nanny who comes in Act Two. She may only be on stage for short amounts of time, but she dazzles with an impressive song, hitting notes I had no idea she was capable of hitting. Another spectacular performance from her.
This show is visually stunning. From the flying effects to Bert walking on ceilings to Mary's magic bag, the show is incredibly welll done. It is very seamless (minus the technical difficulties) and teh house is incredible to watch in itself. I was so impressed by how realistic everything was.
The choreography left a little to be desired, but the tapping in "Step in Time" was very impressive and it's obvious that the rehearsals for this had to be tedious as the cast has a lot of difficult things to do. I also think the diction needs to be worked on. Some of the lines were lost due to the heavy accents at points, although once again, kudos to Katharine Doherty (who is from Boston) and had me completely convinced she was British.
Some little things can be cut and I do think that "Jolly Holiday" needs a little work, but this show is so fun. I don't think anyone can leave without a smile and Ashley Brown will warm your heart.
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#40
Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:17am
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
You said the show was fun, but is it a GOOD show? I don't mean good as in "Yeah...it's cute." I mean good as in...wow..that's SOLID.
Does anyone know if they offer standing room? I want to go tomorrow, and it appears as if they're sold out.
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#41
Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:43am
I believe they offer standing room as there were people standing in the back for the entire show and I read online that all disney shows offer it day of?
I would say the show is a good show, with the potential for greatness. It was the first preview and some things seemed a little stiff. I think with cutting and trimming (and not that much), it would be great. I was very involved in the show - I felt for the characters and I was very into the show and everything that was happening. When I saw Tarzan, I felt very detached - like I didnt' care about the people or what happened to them. I honestly think that the show relies heavily on Mary and Ashley Brown just makes it all work. Mary Poppins is such a special character - so full of light and heart and you need someone that can do that without being over the top or cheesy. You need someone that the audience relates to and this cast is so strong that anything is believable. It is well put-together and while the book isn't art, it's relatively well-done and coupled with a fun, catchy score, I know I left extremely impressed.
If anything is lacking, its the choreography. Although there are some standout moments. I don't agree with the person on All That Chat that seemed to think it was way too long. Without the technical difficulties, it stands to run around 2 hours and 40 minutes and with a few cuts, I think 2 and a half hours would be just right.
Featured Actor Joined: 7/18/06
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#42
Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:54amWell one of my favourite moments of the show has to be the fantastic coreography of "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" I really think it looks great!! although I know what you mean about "Jolly holiday". looking forward to seeing some footage andpics!!!!!!!
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#43
Posted: 10/15/06 at 3:09amWas "Temper Temper" in the show?
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#44
Posted: 10/15/06 at 3:18amFantastic is the word for the choreo on Supercali. Another few words are startlingly fresh and original, damn clever, funny (the boy's line is a killer which brings the house down in London) and jumpingly perfect. I wish all the choreography was that novel and original but I'll take what I can get and I want to learn how to do what they all do in the number (you'll see for yourselves).
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#45
Posted: 10/15/06 at 3:21am
Thank you for your review! I have orchestra row D 9 ticket, which should be the opposite side of yours, and I'm glad to hear the viewing is good.
Do you check any merchandises?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#46
Posted: 10/15/06 at 3:23amFor "Jolly Holiday" are they still moving statues, or did they change that?
Featured Actor Joined: 7/18/06
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#47
Posted: 10/15/06 at 4:29amWould love to know what merchandise there is available for the shopw..especially the OBC Soundtrack!!!!!...Anyone??
re: Mary Poppins Starts Previews Tonight!#48
Posted: 10/15/06 at 4:40am
Im sorry but how can the choreography be lacking? Unless they've changed it to adapt the Broawday production, I think it was one of the best things in the show when I saw it in London! 'Super...cious' and 'Step In Time' has to be one of the best dance numbers Ive seen!
Is 'Anything Can Happen' still in the show?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
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