Mary Poppins this afternoon...not quite practically perfect

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:46pm

Saw today's matinee. Before I begin, let me say that Disney has another long-running hit on their hands. This will run for at least 5 years.

I very much enjoyed the show, though it's not without it's problems. With a couple of exceptions, I find the show's biggest problem to be its staging. Except for Step in Time, none of the big numbers that should be showstoppers are allowed to really take off. Jolly Holiday and Super.... while enjoyable, do not nearly reach their potential. The choreography (again, Step in Time excepted) is never exceptional, and at most times, is utilitarian. Part of the problem, however, is in the way the number was staged to begin with. For example, Super... could never go anywhere because there was really no room for them to dance, the way the stage was set up. As a result, it was mostly them just dancing in a line.

Despite this, however, I still very much enjoyed the show. The score is catchy, and it's well performed. Rebecaa Luker's talents are mostly wasted here, but she does a nice job with what she has. Daniel Jenkins was all right, though I felt a bit too cartoony at points. Jane Carr was lovely as Mrs. Brill, and Cass Morgan did a nice job with Feed the Birds. Ruth Gotschall's Miss Andrew reminded me of the Childcatcher in Chitty... We had Henry Hodges (who I've seen in numerous other shows) and Kathryn Faughn as the children, and they were both very good.

Gavin Lee's Bert was wonderful, and he's probably going to win this year's Astaire Award. Ashley Brown was delightful as Mary Poppins and sings like a dream. She brought the right amound of wit and charisma to the role, and I found to be fantastic.

The sets are fantastic, and for the most part the show moves along at a pretty nice clip. However, I would have cut Temper Temper, which I know is a big bone of contention around here. It didn't fit with the tone of most of the show, and was a bit too creepy.

I enjoyed the show greatly, even with its flaws. From the looks of it, the audience (which was SRO) seemed to do so as well. I had my doubts about how many of those $40 umbrellas they would actually sell (who pays $40 for an umbrella?????), but was surprised to see a ton of people with them.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 8:09pm

To each his own. Myself, I loved the show when I saw it in London but I don't think I'm gonna see it here in the States.

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 8:58pm

Is it true that Bert tap dances on the ceiling?!?!

And i'd personally love to see the show. Not that i'd kill to see it, but I think it be a great time with all of the "magic" one expects from a Disney show... unless it's Tarzan. Then you get ridiculous ribbon dancers turning into waterfalls and big ugly spiders... but thats another story.

Now I would kill to see Mary Poppins with Gavin Creel as Bert and Ashley Brown as Mary. Nothing against Gavin Lee, cuz I love him on the OLCR of Mary Poppins, but I would just love to see Creel as Bert, and i'm not exactly able to up-and-go to London.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 8:59pm

Bert tap-dancing on the ceiling is the best part of the entire show. The rest- eh. I agree with the review entirely. The production is on the whole, very shallow, and I found nothing funny about any of the so-called jokes within it. However, the "magic" elements did entertain the children in the audience, and it WILL run a looooong time.

Updated On: 12/30/06 at 08:59 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:17pm

Temper, Temper did serve a point in the show. Prior to the number when Poppins sees the kids throwing around there toys. She pretty much tells them that they better be nice to all thier things cus they dont' know when they would come up and bite them in the ass. Temper Temper was as if Poppins was saying I told you so.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:28pm

i think this is one of those shows that i wouldn't go over leaps and bounds to see, but if i had the chance to i would.
it looks interesting, and the movie was always near and dear to my heart as a child.
hopefully i'll get a chance to see it! i'm also a fan of ashley brown, and it sounds as if she does wonders for the show.
=)

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:37pm

It's interesting how Matthew Bourne gets credit for all the choreography in the show, when in fact Stephen Mears choreographed the more "Broadway" style numbers. It's the more balletish sections that are by Matthew.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:47pm

Gavin Lee's Bert was wonderful, and he's probably going to win this year's Astaire Award.

I hadn't considered that. I bet you're right. I was amazed at how much dancing that man does in this show. I'd be hard pressed to believe that any other actor this season will come out doing as much dancing as Mr. Lee does in MARY POPPINS.

Updated On: 12/31/06 at 10:47 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 1:05am

I have to admit this appeals to me much more than other film to stage adaptations in recent years (Chitty, the British Dr Dolittle etc).

Exactly which numbers did Mears do and which are Bourne? When I saw the very un-balletic choreography for Supercalif... on the View it reminded me a lot of some of Bourne's work in his Nutcracker and especially The Car Man and Play Without Words (Ya I think Bourne is overated but I am a big fan) with the odd angles in the hand movements, etc. Bourne is listed as a co director though isn't he? (I know when Robbins did West Side Story his assistant choreographer, for instance, did nearly all of America)

I love Disney--the early movies are some of my faves, I have a very soft spot for the theme parks, etc. --but I have to admit it's slightly nervewracking having 4--soon maybe 5 of their shows on Broadway at once...


Also I read in time magazine that the show has been toned down (Temper Temper made less scary) than it was in London--true?
Updated On: 12/31/06 at 01:05 AM

[Unknown User]

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

Any news on who exactly choreographed what?

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 4:10am

The choreography's amazing therefore it's fine.
And I hated the role of Mrs. Banks not because of how the role was written but how they employ actress who are SO talented into this nearly thankless role, I mean, Linzi Hateley, Rebecca Luker, Rebecca Thornhill... these are all WE/Broadway's best female performers! *sighes* nevertheless, it's great to see them onstage anyway ~

[wickedobsessed]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 6:37am

I saw the show this Saturday afternoon. The whole show is simply amazing....it is my new favorite and definatly the BEST Broadway show that I have seen. Everything about it I loved!

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 6:46am

I think this is a very interestin show, I haven't seen it yet but just from how it sounds, i know this is hard to believe even for me since I am such a Julie Andrews fan but i didn't care for the movie..

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:23pm

Out of the TONS of shows there are in NYC, I don't really find it nerve wracking for Disney to have 4 of them.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:09pm

I agree, millie_dillmount. I mean, families come to NYC too, and the adults in the family know they can trust Disney for the shows to be appropriate for them.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:49pm

"Gavin Lee's Bert was wonderful, and he's probably going to win this year's Astaire Award.

I hadn't considered that. I bet you're right. I was amazed at how much dancing that man does in this show. I'd be hard pressed to believe that any other actor this season will come out doing as much dancing as Mr. Lee does in MARY POPPINS."

I would agree with this under the assumption that the award doesn't go to someone in A Chorus Line. I mean, lots of dancing there. The award could easily go to someone like Jason Tam, who, though people say does not deserve a Tony nod, definitely dances the crap out of the part. It could go to any of them really.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:07pm

gavin is great and so was your review

[murron]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 4:25pm

Gavin Creel is wonderful as Bert! For some reason I prefer him to Gavin Lee. I hope he'll stay a while in London, I have to see him again. He's such a sweetheart at the stage door as well.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 4:42pm

Wickedobsessed, you need to get out more.