Mary Poppins is currently flying around the country on her latest UK tour. Directed by Richard Eyre, it’s a supercali-you know the rest-lly, good time.
The show is based on P.L Travers 1934 book and more specifically the 1964 Disney adaptation starring Julie Andrews, however, the production while containing some similarities is quite different to that film. While retaining its emotional core – that of Mr. Banks and his relationship with his family – the show contains new songs and scenes that weren’t in the film, including the introduction of “The Holy Terror” Miss Andrew as an act-two antagonist.
While the loose nature of the first act still persists – with Mary Poppins introducing magic to the Bank’s children’s lives, there is better plot structure than the film which can often feel like sketches sewn together. Mr. Bank’s character is given more to do, and his growth subsequently feels more earned. The banking stuff, often cited as a weakness of the film, is cut down here and a little more interesting, with the slog Fidelity Fiduciary Bank cut.
Stefanie Jones is excellent as the titular character, as moody as she is magical, and Jack Chambers plays off her well as Bert. Michael D. Xavier & Lucie-Mae Sumner provide the emotional core as Mr. & Mrs. Banks.
The set design, reminiscent of a pop-up book or dollhouse, is wondrous, especially during Jolly Holiday where it unfolds into technicolour on stage. Maybe the most well-known, centrepiece of the show Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is another vibrant scene that gained the biggest applause of the night. There was also enough unexplainable stage-trickery to have audiences second-guessing whether magic really is real.
The new songs fit right in here as well, which is often not the case with adaptations. Practically Perfect and Anything Can Happen are the highlights of those, with the former taking the position Spoonful of Sugar has in the film (don’t worry, that song appears later in the show!). Playing The Game was the weakest of the added songs but provided some breathtaking visuals with a giant puppet overhanging the stage.
Mary Poppins is a great night out for the whole family with its practically perfect ensemble and earwormy songs.
Featured Image Credit: Disney/Cameron Mackintosh
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Arts Editor 24/25
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