Theater Review – Mary Poppins U.S. Tour
Musical Based on P.L. Travers Character is Not "Practically Perfect"
May 30, 2009
If you love the movie version of Mary Poppins, you should probably avoid the stage musical. The show strives to be charming and whimsical, but it comes off as alternately annoying and boring — and even a little disturbing at times. It runs far too long — especially considering the number of children in the audience — and it fails to live up to the classic film that inspired it.
Hardly a ‘Jolly Holiday’
The musical includes songs from the movie, but somehow finds a way to ruin many of them. “Jolly Holiday” is marred by creepy dancing statues, and the lyrics of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” are changed to fit in with its bizarre, nonsensical new setting. Even in their altered states, however, these songs still highlight the mediocrity of the tunes written specifically for the stage version.
Many of the new songs in Mary Poppins go on too long or are repeated too many times, and some of them are completely unnecessary. “Playing the Game,” an utterly terrifying number in which Jane and Michael’s toys come to life, is particularly distasteful. “Brimstone and Treacle,” the anthem of evil nanny Miss Andrew, is just plain obnoxious.
A Spoonful of Sugar or Two
Despite the show’s shortcomings, one can still appreciate Mary Poppins’ talented cast. Although her character is awful, Ellen Harvey blows the roof of the theater with the range and power of her voice. She isn’t given much to do as Mrs. Banks, but Megan Osterhaus stops the show during her second-act ballad. The young actors playing Jane and Michael have hefty roles that require a great deal of singing and dancing, and they live up to the challenge.
And the two leads deserve to be in a better show. Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in London and New York, oozes charm and talent. His presence onstage is like a breath of fresh air. Ashley Brown effortlessly inhabits the role of the perfect nanny, and her lovely voice is reminiscent of Julie Andrews’ original Mary Poppins.
In addition to the cast, the show finds further redemption in its innovative staging and special effects. The Banks’ home unfolds like a human-sized dollhouse, and huge set pieces transition effortlessly. And even after sitting through more than two hours of awful songs, it’s still exciting to see Bert dance on the ceiling and Mary Poppins fly. It’s too bad the rest of the show lacks the same magic.
