Spectacular! Spectacular! Spectacular! Mary Poppins was beyond brilliant.  The show swept me off my feet and radiated  to the audience beyond belief. Presented by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh at the Cadillac Palace, the theater was filled with a range of different people. I have never seen so many kids in one place before. Uneasy about how the children would behave in the theater, I was delighted to see that the show captivated their minds and pulled them into a trance that lasted throughout the show.

Up, Up and Away

Julie Andrews had taken our hearts in the film production of Mary Poppins and I was skeptical about how the actress of this theater production would convey the character. I’m glad to say that Ashley Brown, who played Mary Poppins in the play at Cadillac Palace, filled the shoes of Mary Poppins like a Cinderella glass slipper. She was extraordinary. She presented Mary Poppins with a presumptuous attitude that was able to retrieve laughs from the audience and ultimately reach the children, Jane and Michael Banks, that she was sent to nanny.

Speaking of Jane, played by Aida Neitenbach, and Michael, played by Christopher Flaim, these young teens are well on their way to a bright acting career. Working around older and more experienced actors and actresses, I would have thought intimidating and amateur acting would have shown through in their performances. They really proved me wrong. To act in front of an audience that’s made up of almost half of their own peers could be frightening. They exhibited great talent and placed importance on their character’s roles.

As for Bert, the chimneysweeper and the Mary Poppins love attraction, Dick Van Dyke made us melt with his silly sense of humor and stunning good looks in the film production with Julie Andrews. I think it’s fair to say that Gavin Lee had no problem taking on the role of Bert in the theater. A Dick Van Dyke look-a-like, he also was a heartthrob and exploited some tricks that he had up his sleeves.

Everyone  on the team who helped produce this show must really have had fun doing it. They were able to create magic in every scene and succeeded beyond my expectations. The same old Mary Poppins soundtrack of rhythmic head bobbing songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” - try that one for a spelling bee - was anticipated but what really got the audience participating, as they clapped their hands to the beat, was the choreography. I even caught myself tapping my foot and having the urge to jump up and dance.

There was so much creativity in evidence enhancing the show’s sustained wonder. The audience was awed by the special features that set off our imaginations. The production crew created a really believable Mary Poppins bag that seemed bottomless as she pulled out big, extravagant props from it while it sat on a four-legged table. With technology today anything seems possible. When I thought there would be no more surprises, I should have thought twice. The second act really bedazzled me. If the show had been my date, I would have let my guard down right then and there. Not only did the actors and actresses take advantage of the whole stage but this was the first time I saw the top of it used too. I was completely captivated and amused as Bert steadily walked his way up one side of the stage to the ceiling. He continued to tap dance across the top making his way down on the other side of the stage until he was fully upright in a normal state again.

I also absolutely loved the way the audience was involved. At the end of the show, Bert magically disperses stars out into the audience so we could be among them. I can honestly say it was difficult to let go and have it end. I wanted to be stuck in this magical musical forever. The grand finale didn’t upset me though, despite the tearful farewell to Mary Poppins. She left with an astonishing exit that the audience will never forget. The show harvested a standing ovation and Mary Poppins and Bert joyfully danced as the curtains closed for the last time.

This review of my experience does not adequetly convey the show. Until you throw yourself into a seat at the Cadillac Palace to experience this enthralling attraction, you will not embrace this whimsical journey. I would catch it before Mary Poppins is gone for good.

To purchase tickets for Mary Poppins, click here.

Photos by Joan Marcus.

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