how does Bway "Mary Poppins" differ from London "Mary Poppins"?

[dfwtheatreguy]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 12:30am

i'm seeing "Mary Poppins" in New York in a couple of weeks and while I know it's not exactly like the movie, i was wondering what is different in it's transfer from London? i got the CD tonight, listened to it - was not blown away, but liked it. i was hearing that they "de-British-fied" it for American audiences, yes?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 12:34am

I thought they incorperated the New York changes into the London production... did they not?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 12:35am

The umbrella at the end was not in the London production.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:13am

Are you talking about when she flys into the audience, because if you are then that does happen in London, she flys right to the top and above the upper circle.

[murron]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 8:03am

He's talking about that freaking giant umbrella which appears at the end of Anything Can Happen

[Weez]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 1:01pm

It's a different Gavin playing Bert. While it may sound silly to mention it (of COURSE the casts will be different!), Gavin Creel is just so wonderful that I couldn't resist mentioning it. And I have seen both. :3

[courtnyj]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 2:56pm

I hated the giant umbrella. Looked like something you'd see at an amusement park.

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 3:16pm

Yeah, that umbrella was kind of freaky. Crazy and freaky. Almost creepy, in fact.

[James2]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 3:36pm

Doesn't "Temper, Temper" end differently in London?

[BroadwaySinger2]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 4:40pm

I think the umbrella is wonderful.

The umbrella is added. The song "Jolly Holiday" is also much more colorful in NYC.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 4:44pm

"He's talking about that freaking giant umbrella which appears at the end of Anything Can Happen"

Sorry have only seen the London version.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 5:02pm

NEWS FLASH: Almost all the New York changes are NOW in the London production.

COMPARING TO THE ORIGINAL VERSION IN LONDON:

Jolly Holiday has been reworked lyrically and set wise. When Mary and Bert come out after Neleus moves for the first time, the set changes to color and the people walking in the park change from black attire to colorful.

Some transition scenes have been shortened, for example before Supercal, Mary and Jane no longer talk at length about "it's not how the person sounds, it what they say that matters."

Feed the Birds has a new set that is farther downstage.

Temper, Temper is a little shorter. The repeated "Temper, temper, temper, temper..." is cut out...they just jump right in.

Anything Can Happen is shorter now, too. For example, Mrs. Corry doesn't have her little solo thing. And that giant umbrella now appears (some cast members have said they think while onstage..."Um...okay?")

There are some other changes, but those are the biggest.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:12pm

"Anything Can Happen is shorter now, too. For example, Mrs. Corry doesn't have her little solo thing. And that giant umbrella now appears (some cast members have said they think while onstage..."Um...okay?") "

Yeah, little stuff like that ruined the show for me. Mrs. Corry was such a fantastic character and they cut out her great solo from "Anything Can Happen". Also, the umbrella thing was just uncalled for...oh and Ashley Brown.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:16pm

The show in London impressed me the first time around. I honestly think it was the cast. Laura Michelle Kelly was quite terriffic as Poppins, Gavin Lee was superb as Bert and the couple playing the parents were outstanding. For some reason, after I saw it again (minus the original cast) and ove here, I began to loathe it. I think the changes are too soapy and the current casts are too bland (with the exception of Mr. Lee who still marvels).
So what changed? The cast. That's what ruined the show. Updated On: 5/3/07 at 07:16 PM

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:18pm

The accents in London are genuine.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:42pm

Gypsy...I could somewhat agree...it sort of gave you the feeling the children were always being watched over.

jv92...a good thing about your current loathing for the show is that it can be easily changed with different casts...

ETA:

Although I very much enjoy the current Jolly Holiday, there is something about the original version that made it more...magical. Not necessarily lyrically, but physically. The bland surroundings made the statue's life-like movements seem more fantastic because it was magic amidst normalcy.

Updated On: 5/3/07 at 07:42 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 7:57pm

COMPARE:





However, I am still a huge fan of the show, and I recommend it highly. I just happen to prefer the original staging of Jolly Holiday, however it doesn't detract from enjoyment.

Updated On: 5/3/07 at 07:57 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 8:19pm

I like the first one too. The women are wearing more clothes and there's more naked guys...

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 8:22pm

I can't see the first one.

[Julian2]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 9:43pm

Apparently, the London version was good.

I saw it in New York and found very little magic, and I was soo looking fowards to it.

[BroadwaySinger2]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 10:23pm

On the contrary, I thought Mary Poppins was filled with Magic. I loved it!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 10:40pm

Me too. I think it's fabulous, despite my few minor quibs (but we have them for most shows anyway).

[zerodanny]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 3:48am

I love the changes that were made to the show, I have not seen the broadway cast live but from what I have seen on the net there is something lacking in Ashley Browns Mary. In London the show is truly magical in every way and the cast is practically perfect!! Although in my opinion Laura Michelle Kelly IS Mary Poppins, Lisa is superb! Her singing and her dancing on stage and the way of portraying Mary the facial expressions and the gestures. The same goes for Scarlett Strallen!!

[murron]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 5:14am

Same here. I'm now biased with Lisa, London's best Mary. She has completely grown on me and I'll pick her anytime over LMK. I'm so sad she'll be leaving in a couple of days.
I find Broadway's Mary too wooden and trying really hard on the accent.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 6:35am

I hated the new staging, esp for Jolly Holliday, Anything Can Happen and ending of Temper Temper!!!! I have to say that the BIG Umbrella bugs me most... it's just DISGUSTING! Does London have that Umbrella now?

There is also a line swap between Mary & the ensemble in the middle of 'Step In Time'