The Original United Kingdom tour cast of “Mary Poppins” performs “Supercalifragilisticexpialiodocious.”
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| Photo courtesy DisneyCML |
The Broadway hit “Mary Poppins” flew into the Detroit Opera House at mid-month and will stay until the New Year heralds a change in the wind – or Jan. 2 to be precise.
“Practically perfect in every way” describes Poppins and just about everything in this delightful show save a few technical aspects that were needlessly complicated for a traveling road company. However, the opening weekend performance glitches – hopefully long gone – pale in the light of the bright stage magic that delights young and old alike.
Based on P.L. Travers’ cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, the stage play features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.
Most of us think of Disney and Julie Andrews when “Mary Poppins” is mentioned. Travers, however, had Poppins talking to birds before J.K. Rowlings ever sent Harry Potter his first owl. She also has the magical nanny use an umbrella instead of a Quiddich broom to fly about.
However, Mary’s use of magic is much more discrete than her Hogwarts followers. Poppins is playful for the most part, lifting spirits and providing fun-filled adventures.
The Poppins magic may create a few scary toys, but what adult really could resist conjuring up some supernatural surprises if it were within their power to get a kid to clean up their room?
The magical nanny’s words and surprises tilt the ordinary world on its axis, enabling those she chooses to see their lives differently and then in turn affect their own changes.
Much of the stage magic appears in song and dance. From big, bold chorus numbers on the rooftops to quiet ballads, you’ll fall in love with the story through the songs and steps.
Many numbers are larger than life – “Step in Time” on the rooftops, “Jolly Holiday,” where the park outing takes a delightful turn, and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
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