Mary Poppins - But It Was FUN!

The Cast of Mary Poppins (photo by David Cooper)

Sometimes it is simply wonderful to see theatre with new eyes. It was my privilege to attend the Arts Club Theatre's new production of Mary Poppins with a young friend of mine (who is a seven year-old named Tania). Since Tania wasn't able to make the show on opening night (because the 8 pm curtain is getting past her bedtime), we went to the Sunday matinee at 2 pm.

We arrived at the Stanley Theatre and stood in line to collect our tickets from the box office. Once in the lobby (after waiting in another line), we pre-ordered orange juice for intermission (which Tania told me is just like "half-time" in a football game). Then we went to find our seats in the orchestra section (row 8, seats 6 and 7).

Once seated, we admired the set (and read the house numbers 15, 17 and 19 painted on the set drop for Cherrytree Lane). As we waited for the show to begin, Tania and I looked at the program. She noticed right away the cartoonish advertising for upcoming productions by Carousel Theatre featuring The Cat In The Hat (Seussical) and Richard Scarry (Busytown). 

As the show begins, perhaps our most important question is - just where IS the promised magical nanny Mary Poppins? When she does finally arrive, she immediately dazzles us by pulling impossibly large objects out of a small carpetbag (a lamp, a handstand, a plant, a mirror and so on). Very impressive. But it does take some time (and several song and dance numbers) for Mary Poppins to start winning over her new young charges Jane and Michael Banks. And most importantly, we DO see Mary Poppins fly!

At intermission (or "half-time"), we wander into the crowded lobby. Tania finds the orange juice (identified by her name written in chalk); it's acceptable, but would be better without the ice. Then we go back into the theatre. We climb up to the balcony to see the view, examine the booth and go down to see the stage up close (where we try to determine if the bricks are indeed real). 

The second half starts as the first - Mary Poppins is missing. And her replacement, Miss Andrews (also known as "The Holy Terror") does actually give Tania a fright. Luckily, the return of Mary Poppins leads to a happy ending (hope that's not giving too much away). And to my favourite part of the show which featured the tap dancing chimney sweeps (which gave me the opportunity to explain to Tania that when the audience claps so much during the show that the performers stop and wait for the applause it's called a "showstopper").   

Overall, Tania thought the show was confusing sometimes (certain jokes were not funny to her) and I wondered if it was a bit long for an energetic seven year-old. However, as Tania herself declared emphatically when we left the theatre: "But it was fun!" 

Special thanks to the Arts Club publicist Nick Seliwoniuk for making this matinee adventure possible!

 

 

 

 

  

 

By Allyson McGrane
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