Mary Poppins review (11/9/06)

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:49pm

I did end up finding tickets for tonight and sat in center orchestra.

The show was awesome, as usual. Although there were a couple of little mishaps and giggles that I noticed.

Katherine Doherty and Matthew Gumley were on as Jane and Michael tonight. They were FABULOUS, although Matthew almost tripped over the steps on the front of the nursery set, twice. And he went into a fit of giggles the second time Too cute...

I think one of the sets of moving columns (in Jolly Holiday) was broken tonight...you could clearly see the sets moving behind them when they were supposed to be hidden.

When Ashley flies down from the ceiling during Let's Go Fly A Kite, she...didn't. A minute or two before she is supposed to make her entrance we heard a loud bang. But the show went on...and when the kite gets 'stuck' with her, the kite fell down but there was no Ashley. She walked in from the wing (but still to the thunderous applause she usually gets). And the Park Keeper made a great cover-up...instead of the line he says about it being illegal to come down from the sky, he said to wander about the park, instead. Nice work

The energy seemed especially on tonight, I thought. Wonderful show, as usual

(One thing - did someone say in a previous posting that Ashley slid up the stairs during Brimstone and Treacle? I didn't see it tonight...)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:52pm

She flies up in Brimstone and Treacle Part 2, when Miss Andrews is going down in the cage.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:52pm

Double Post Updated On: 11/9/06 at 11:52 PM

[Heybeenfood]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:57pm

I was there tonight, and to be honest I did not notice any of the mishaps/glitches. Very cute show with a lot of energy.

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:58pm

i've seen the show several times already so i guess i now know what to look for...

and i still didn't see ashley fly up the stairs (i was watching for it...)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:06am

They did in London, maybe they don't do it in this production.

[baby4321]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:53pm

I heard that Ashley was sick last night. That's why she didn't fly down or slide up the banister.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 1:45pm

Tomorrow's my big day seeing it!

Any word on who is playing Jane/Michael tomorrow afternoon? Or are they just inserting slips into the showbills?

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 1:54pm

well, if ashley was sick she sure didn't show it! and i'm surprised she would back out of those two random movements when she did every other flying sequence...

i doubt that was the reason she didn't, actually...there was a very obvious loud bang right before she was supposed to fly down into the park with the kite, the whole cast looked surprised to see her on the stage...

as for jane and michael tomorrow afternoon, i would guess it would be alex scheitinger and kathryn faughnan...just based on probability and the rotation. i could be wrong though.

enjoy the show tomorrow!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:02pm

Thank you! :)

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:02pm

Thank you! :)

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:13pm

If she was too sick to fly, an u/s would have gone on. This is Disney, not Shakespeare - the audience wants to see Poppins fly.

I saw the show and there wasn't any up the banister flying.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:15pm

I heard that in the show there is a scary sequence that is making kids crap their pants. Is that true?

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:17pm

wickedgeek, glad to see i'm not the only one with that opinion! i do think there was a problem with her flying equipment for that one particular park sequence, but the cast covered very nicely.

yes there is a scary sequence. i don't personally find it scary, just a little grating on the ears...but there were kids around me last night who were definitely frightened.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:30pm

What happened in the scary sequence? I just love the idea of the kids going to see the show expecting an all fun and happy Mary Poppins, and that scene comes on and they’re soiling their pants.

I dpnt hate children, i just think thats funny

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:35pm

Well the original PL Travers books were much darker than the movie starring Julie Andrews. One of the conditions of the show being written was that it would include some of the darkness of the books.

Temper Temper is the 'scary song' everyone is talking about. Basically in it, Jane and Michael's toys come to life and scold them for not taking better care of them and losing their temper and abusing the toys. The song is very loud and very shrill and the costumes of the toys are a little awkward and frightening.

It really is the only dark moment in the show, other than Brimstone and Treacle. Although Ashley does an awesome job of inserting a little sarcasm and attitude into her character.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:47pm

Is the show worth the crazy ticket prices?

[jacobp]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:54pm

I saw it that night too and i must say despite what i thought ashley was very good especially being as sick as she was i though there were a few mishaps too...i mean mary poppins wouldnt just walk on in lets go fly a kite......she was very sick i waited at the stage door and she didnt come out...someone said it was amazing she was in the second act

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:58pm

i agree - if she was as sick as people see to think she was, she hid it amazingly well. especially having to be harnessed for the flying sequence at the very end (did you happen to notice the look on her face like i did? she looked like she was in pain ). that's the mark of a true professional.

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:59pm

and yes, i happen to think it's worth the ticket prices. although...try waiting on the cancellation line an hour or two before a performance. i did it last night and got tickets in the center orchestra. they were supposed to be $110 but were marked down to $80

[jacobp]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 3:37pm

SHe had a smile on her fae when she was flying i was in the portion of the orchestra (she flew over mwa!) and the smile actually when i think of it looked like im going to puke but im gona smile !

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 4:02pm

yup, that's what i meant!

good for her, though. she is a true actress. (i hope for her sake she's taking tonight's performance off...)

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 4:39pm

Did anyone see Ashley Brown in Beauty and the Beast?

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 4:45pm

yes, and she was wonderful. but i think she shines even more as mary poppins

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 4:54pm

Apparently she brought new life to the part and her “A Change in Me” sent people to the heavens. Ah a Broadway diva in the making!