The musical production which was a joint venture between two of theater's heaviest hitters Cameron Mackintosh(Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera) and Disney Theatricals(The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast), is what it promised to be, a knock out production. The joint venture is a very odd one, considering that either production company could have managed the production on their own, but Cameron Mackintosh owned the rights to the stage adaptation(from the books) while Disney owned the classic songs(from the movie), they decided to morph the two together, and give audiences a more fleshed out Mary Poppins and Banks family.
As most of us know the story of Mary Poppins is a simple one, two children who cannot behave and who go through nannies like most of us go through undergarments, are trying on their parents last nerves. The children request what they would like in a nanny, and poof, Mary Poppins(played by the more than capable Ashley Brown) appears and let the fun begin. Mary teaches them lessons, they learn a little, become better people, find their parents love, and ta-da the story gets wrapped up in a lovely bow!
Credit must be given to Bob Crowley for his amazing sets. I am surprised that at the end of the show they didn't bring the set out for applause. It amazes me the things that they can do with sets. I was transported back to watching the movie when I was 8. But I guess that is what the show is supposed to do for you.
There was one scene that alluded to the darker tones of the book series by P.L. Travers. One in which Jane and Michael Banks are arguing over a toy and they rip the sleeve of the doll, and shove it in a doll house. All because they lost their temper. A creepy hand then comes out of the dollhouse and reaches for the children and soon a life size version of the doll comes out, and the children get put on trial for losing their temper. This scene could be frightening for children under the age of 4(probably why they are not allowed to come into the theater). But it is not as bad as some have made it out to be.
Ashley Brown is lovely as every one's favourite nanny. She does tend to do a Julie Andrews imitation, I am more partial to the UK original Laura Michelle Kelly who brought something original to the part. Gavin Lee is amazing as the chimney sweep Bert, managing to fill the shoes of Dick Van Dyke very nicely. The most impressive feat by Mr. Lee is the tap dance across the proscenium arch of the stage during the musical's best number "Step In Time." Rebecca Luker is charming as Mrs. Banks, but I am not pleased with the direction that the book writer has taken her character. In the movie she was strong and a beacon for feminism when it was not deemed lady like. The stage Mrs. Banks seems to depend on her husband and places all her self-worth on being someone else's wife. This fact made most evident during the song "Being Mrs. Banks." She gives up her life as an actress to raise her family, and when her husband offers her the chance to go back to work, she smiles and says "I've found a better job, being a mother" *yawn* Whereas the movie pushed Mrs. Banks forward, the stage Mrs. Banks takes 300 steps backward and becomes a character that I ended up not admiring, and she's sending the wrong message to the thousands of children that have seen the show over the past year. "It's okay to stay at home and cook dinner and be passive and not speak for yourself." I am not knocking women who chose to stay at home and raise their families, but you shouldn't let yourself fall into the common stereotype of being the weaker sex.
The production numbers were amazing, and as I said before so were the sets. The production was family friendly and albeit some of the scenes were a tad scary for the younger set, I highly recommend this production.
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