review: mary poppins...by gordin & christiano

The Disney production of Mary Poppins on Broadway with Cameron Mackintosh is simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Based on the classic 1964 Disney movie that won an Oscar for Julie Andrews in the title role, the musical, imported from London’s West End, draws much of its dark magic from P.L. Travers’ original novel, and is even better on Broadway. Here is a stylish vibrant family entertainment that promises to please not only the children but the adults as well.

With an eye toward commercial ventures, Disney has given us a wide range of musicals over the past decade and is changing the face of Broadway with their endless resources and marketing wisdom. The inspirational, long-running production of Beauty and the Beast began Disney’s reign, and is still playing in theaters all over the country. The pop musical Aida, aimed at teenagers and based on the music of Elton John, was the second jewel in their crown. And despite their miscalculation with producing Tarzan last season, the dreadful musical is still managing to draw a steady audience. And, of course, their artistically brilliant, mega successful masterpiece, The Lion King to makes up for any missteps. Now, we get Mary Poppins, which, with the aid of the brilliant Cameron Mackintosh, looks to be another potentially long-running winner.

Mr. Mackintosh is unquestionably one of the most outstanding producers both here and in London. Great theatre is collaborative, and Mackintosh’s unique vision has given his Mary Poppins a gifted array of talent that is decidedly sparkling. Every element of the evening holds an animated vivaciousness that lifts your spirits as easily as Mary Poppins herself takes off in flight, sailing to the upper balcony at the end of the evening.

The brisk staging by Richard Eyre and co-director Matthew Bourne looks and sounds smart, but it is the clever choreography by Stephen Mear that allows the evening to soar. The dynamic dance numbers energize the entire show with a witty spell that seems to inspire the performers.

Richard and Robert Sherman songs from the original film, that include “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Feed the Birds,” and “A Spoonful of Sugar,” are animated marvelously. The new songs, by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, feature Mary’s funny inspiration and self-love, such as “Practically Perfect,” and the stirring “Anything Can Happen.” The toys dispense some dark lessons during the slyly amusing “Temper, Temper.” The new songs blend so beautifully with the Grammy Award-winning originals that it is difficult to tell them apart.

Bob Crowley has designed the bright costumes and exceptional sets. The complex design for the Banks’ home moves from downstairs to upstairs is just terrific.

The intelligent story, written by Julian Fellowes, has sympathetic characters and follows a nanny (Ashley Brown) with supernatural powers, who comes to 17 Cherry Lane in Edwardian London to care for the out-of-control children (Katherine Doherty and Henry Hodges) of Mr. and Mrs. Banks (Rebecca Luker and Daniel Jenkins). The children’s workaholic father and emotional mother had neglected them, and Mary Poppins, their nanny, restores order to their lives by teaching them to work hard and be optimistic, and turns out to be a good witch. She magically disappears, only to return again and then magically fly off at the evening’s end, in a special effect that is just dazzling.

Brown, as Mary Poppins, sings, dances and acts beautifully. If her performance displays only two basic qualities that shift rather abruptly, it doesn’t seem to matter as she is a totally winning presence. Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert, the good-natured Cockney chimney sweep in London, is delightful. He helps Mary in her chores with the children, and his dance number, where he walks up the wall and on the ceiling, is one of the evening’s highlights.

All the talented performers in the supporting roles are excellent, but Ruth Gottschall, as George Banks’ former nanny, is a scene-stealing standout.

At two hours and forty-five minutes, the evening is a tad long, but still great fun.

Mary Poppins opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre (Broadway at West 42nd Street) on November 16, 2006. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 212-307-4747 or at the box office. Barry Gordin and Patrick Christiano are theatre critics. Barry Gordin is an internationally renowned photographer. They can be reached at bg6@verizon.net.