Susan Granger’s review of “Mary Poppins” (New Amsterdam Theater)
It’s “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”!
This lavish musical extravaganza begins in Edwardian London at 17 Cherry Tree Lane, where, according to Bert, the cheerful chimney sweep narrator, the dysfunctional Banks family – Mother, Father, Jane and Michael – are desperate because yet another nanny has quit in disgust. Suddenly, inexplicably – before they can place an advertisement in the newspaper – Mary Poppins appears, without proper references but with such a positive attitude that the unruly, unhappy family immediately falls under her spell. After all, with her bottomless carpetbag and ubiquitous parrot-headed umbrella, she’s “Practically Perfect,” as the fantasy goes.and, before she departs, so is the family.
But it’s Mary’s soaring, eye-popping adventures that weave enchantment – like bringing marble statues in the park to life, re-assembling a catastrophic kitchen and exuberant kite-flying. Yet nothing tops Bert’s show-stopping, gravity-defying tap dancing – up, down and across the ceiling of the stage!
As the enigmatic nanny, Ashley Browne is delectable, while grinning Gavin Lee exudes an irresistible charm as jolly Bert. Daniel Jenkins and Rebecca Luker bring drama to the parents’ dilemma and the child actors who rotate in performances are adorable.
Basing the show on P.L. Travers’ children’s classic and Julie Andrews’ 1964 movie – with songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Disney’s decision to team up with producer Cameron Mackintosh is “a spoonful of sugar,” with flashy contributions from writer Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”), director Richard Eyre and choreographer Matthew Bourne, assisted by Stephen Mear, production designer Bob Crowley, orchestrator Bill Brohn, lighting expert Howard Harrison, sound man Steve Canyon Kennedy and musical supervisor David Caddick. Whimsical new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe fit seamlessly into the stratosphere.
For children and their parents, it’s a dazzling, magical Broadway experience.