Mary Poppins review 11/1 spoilers (updated: return visit on 1/10)- Page 2

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 8:19pm

Okay, so I went back this afternoon and just wanted to write a couple of things about my return visit.

The show was obviously more well-rehearsed and worked cleaner, like Robertson breaking everything in the kitchen was great--the breaking of the things was totally in sync with him being there.

This time I saw Delaney and Alexander (not sure if I mentioned I saw Kathryn F and Henry the first time). Delaney was a standout, she did a very good job, though she was almost as tall as Ashley which was amusing...Alex was adorable.

It was unfortunate, it seems it was a crazy show and lots of things were happening backstage...the gate with Bert's drawings never came out, and Mary didn't fly. It was a little disappointing, but of course it's not worth Ashley risking safety.

And this time, I did indeed see Mary slide up the banister while doing away with Miss Andrew. I was waiting for this, and it did not disappoint! If it would be used once, that was a great place to put it in. That one addition made the arm-motions she made otherwise a little less...annoying and repetitive. Great addition!

Otherwise, it was only better the second time. Effects were as great, actors were even more comfortable...just wanted to say I definitely loved it as much as I did the first time

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 8:19pm

Oops, killed a cat (double post)

Updated On: 1/10/07 at 08:19 PM

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 8:21pm

great review for a great show!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 8:31pm

Great to hear it's getting tighter! I've never seen her fly, so don't feel too bad about it! You're right, her saftey is far more important.

I may be making a return visit at some point in the near future or sometime this summer (along with either seeing Grey Gardens or Spring Awakening, maybe both!) so it's good to read encouraging reviews.

[Gregster]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 8:38pm

the mirror from the bag is actually very cleverly done. magic spoiler alert!!!

it is actually collapsed in the bag and as mary takes it out she slides the top half of the mirror round to click into the second half of the mirror. The joins are BARELY visible close up, so from far away it looks like a solid surface.

The plant is actually only half a plant and folds in half inside the bag.

And most cleverly, the bed actually pops up from the floor of the nursery and is only covered by the sheet mary puts on it... On one memorable show in london the bed partially collapsed back into the floor as they all sat on it!

so there isnt actually anuthing under the table

to slide up the banister mary has one foot on a small platform on the bottom step. She then puts her other foot onto the banister (bizzare but true!) and then the platform moves up the stairs to create the sliding up effect...

of corse im totally making all this up and its all magic

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 9:27pm

That's rough that the set wasn't working, but it's been known to have its problems. When I saw the show early in previews she didn't slide up the banister.

[AnaGFan]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:14pm

I saw the show during previews and another time the week of thanksgiving and she didn't slide up the banister both times. That would have been fun! She did fly though.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:17pm

She wasn't sliding up the banister I don't think until some point in previews I believe. I hadn't heard of her doing it at all until someone posted about it. Maybe after if someone said Thanksgiving...it's newish, so I think if you didn't see it, you probably saw it before it was integrated. (though of course it's possible it was malfunctioning)

[D2]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 11:12pm

I saw it this afternoon for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. I was bummed she didn't fly, but the child I took to see it was thoroughly enchanted, and though very young (4 years old) she was riveted the entire time and very well behaved. And she was not frightened by "Temper, Temper" - she thought it was hilarious.

[qwerty2]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 11:34pm

I'm going to see this tomorrow night and I'm EXTREMELY excited!

I hope everything will be fixed by then.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 2:46am

Glad to hear you enjoyed it but Mary didn't fly at the end of Act 1 or 2? If it's the finale that's very disappointing

I saw the show a few days before the opening as well as the opening night and a few days after, and Mary slided up each time beautifully. But there are a lot going on the stage in that scene, unless you pay attention, you'd miss it.

[Glebb]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 5:46am

I lucked out and saw a perfect performance - Thurs, Jan 4th.
Delightful.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:54pm

Aww, glad you enjoyed it D2.

I have to say there were a great deal of kids in the audience (obviously it being a matinee) and it honestly was a very nice experience with them. They weren't perfect, I could hear talking, whispering, a kid in front of me bouncing, but no one was too bad and it was just so cute as I saw them walk in with parents and their parents being like this is your first Broadway show, isn't this exciting? and the kids bouncing and looking so happy and excited to be watching the show. I draw a line, like this one time at Chitty when the kid behind me was singing along, but as long as the kids are decently behaved, I think it's important for them to go to shows and it really is wonderful seeing their reaction, even with a little noise and movement.

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:12pm

I wonder how many people knew something was missing from that scene because really not a lot happens on stage then and without her flying the ending seemed a little long... and anticlimactic.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:13pm

I saw the show on November 11, the last Saturday of previews. She slid up the bannister at that show. I believe they put that effect in earlier that week (when we first started hearing about it).

[D2]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:34pm

WickedRQ: Actually, the little old ladies in the audience were worse than the kids yesterday afternoon. The two old bats sitting next to me were disgruntled there were so many kids there, and I thought "what the hell are you two thinking?" When they left midway through Act Two, I was relieved. Surprised, but relieved.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:50pm

D2, sometimes old people can be worse than kids! When I go to regional theatres when the average age is 60, I know I'm in for an experience--snoring, breathing machines, etc. (I don't blame them for the breathing machines, I'm just saying...) That's weird especially since I've been in much worse audiences than that one.

Mistress, I don't think anyone who knew nothing would *really* notice. Like at the stage door, a couple of people were talking about problems backstage and "flying issues" and some people were saying wow, we didn't notice she had any trouble flying. I suppose they might have been a little...that's it when the show ended but I don't think they would have realized something huge like that was missing.

[Mrfreeze]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 4:43am

I know it's a weird question but are there a lot o special effects?I'm thinking explosions..shots..loud noises and co..I'd love to see the show but I have a huge phobia of all of the above..I might just jump on the lap of the person in front of me...

[JHartnow]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 11:10am

I saw the show for the first time on January 3rd. It was a perfect performance...and I was very moved by the whole thing. We were center balcony, row C. GREAT seats. Mary flew right in front of us at the end.

MrFreeze...the effects are not loud...but just plain cool to see. I was most impressed by the carpet bag and the scenes with Willoughby...especially when he's on top of Bert's trolley. Very cool effects. As for the bannister scene at the end of Brimstone & Treacle 2, it was VERY fast! If I hadn't been watching Ashley at that moment I would've missed it.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 1:23pm

MrFreeze, there are a lot of effects, but none of the ones you mentioned. A lot of it is scenery related stuff, or her flying at the end and such, all of which require no extra noise

[Mrfreeze]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:50am

Great thank you so much! I didn't think there would be, but you never know with these big productions!Throw in some sparkles and fireworks to impress the crowd!:)