Side Gig: Mary Poppins lands on Broadway
theatre
Posted: Wednesday, July 6 (My Birthday!!), 2011 11:46 am | Updated: 3:04 pm, Wed Jul 6, 2011.
I recently rode up to New York City to see a show on Broadway as a 23rd birthday gift to myself.
First, I have to say that “Mary Poppins” is my very favorite movie, to the point that I can quote it completely; dialogue too (not just the songs).
So, I was attending the show with excitement, but also hesitation about the stage version of a Disney classic.
The show played at the New Amsterdam Theatre on W. 42nd St. in Manhattan.
The audience was filled with families, kids dressed as Disney characters, and my 20-year-old friend and myself but it didn’t matter because Mary Poppins makes me feel like a 6-year-old again.
“Mary Poppins” on Broadway was a musical, magic show.
The effects of Mary’s bottomless carpetbag, tidying the house, and umbrella flights were seamless.
Cast and crew pulled all the strings (literally) to bring to life all of the shenanigans and enchantment that took place inside No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane.
They kept in most of the classic songs from the film, including the Sherman Brothers score, “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Step in Time,” and of course “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (Yes I used Google for that one).
Some songs, because of slight and I think unnecessary changes in the storyline, were deleted and replaced with others that I’m not so sure I was fond of.
Not to give too much away, but in the film, the parents Winifred and George Banks are rather flat characters but for the stage performance, they were given more of a story line (that I didn’t quite buy) and therefore, new songs.
((SPOILER ALERT))
For some reason, in the show Winifred wants to be an actress versus fighting for women’s rights??? O_o?
((END SPOILER ALERT))
But overall I can understand if there is hesitation in seeing the stage adaptation of a film that came out in 1964.
But I think that the iconic status of Mary Poppins was a good thing and gave the musical producers some restraint in straying too far from the script.
Take the entire family and go see this show!!
In New York, there are oh so many dining options in every direction of the theatre, so you can never go wrong.
When I visit different states, I try to stay away from national chains that I can go to at home and instead get a taste of where I happen to be.
We chose the Houndstooth Pub on 8th Avenue, just a short walk from the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Enjoy your stay…”in the most delightful way.”
