Mary Poppins.

Mary Poppins.
Music & Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe. Book: Julian Fellowes. Director: Richard Eyre adapted by James Powell. Choreography: Mathew Bourne adapted by Geoffrey Garratt. Disney & Cameron Macintosh Production. Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. 5 January 2012

Mary Poppins not only sings, dances and flies, but she is totally captivating in this stage-musical version of Queensland author P.L. Travers immortal character. Verity Hunt-Ballard sings she’s “Practically Perfect” but in my view she couldn’t be more perfect in the role. Feisty, endearing and with a voice like an angel, she stands head-and-shoulders above everybody else on stage and is the main reason to see this joyous musical.

Since the production opened in Melbourne eighteen months ago there have been four major cast changes: Simon Burke as George Banks goes for a softer take on the stern disciplinarian role; Pippa Grandison is a lively and appealing Mrs. Banks making more of the character than is in the script; Delia Hannah is an excellent Bird Woman and her “Feed the Birds” is memorable; Natalie Gamsu as the “Brimstone and Treacle” horror Miss Andrew was unfortunately hampered somewhat by muddy sound. Matt Lee’s strength as Bert the chimney-sweep is dance and he does well on the showstoppers, “Jolly Holiday,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Step In Time,” but Sally Anne Upton’s Mrs. Brill was OTT big and could have done with much more subtlety. Kurtis Papadinis and Rose Shannon-Duhigg as Michael and Jane are good little actors, vocally strong and a big plus in making the show work. George Stiles and Anthony Drewe’s new songs are also a big plus and help give the musical some much needed depth.

In a production of kaleidoscopic color and awash with spectacular gimmicks, like Bert tapping up and around the proscenium arch, and Mary flying out over the audience at the finale, Disney’s first ever production to reach Brisbane can be rubber-stamped like most of their product as excellent family entertainment.

Peter Pinne

Our earlier Mary Poppins articles and videos

Pippa Grandison: Stepping in as Mrs Banks.

Mary Poppins for Brisbane

Mary Poppins in Sydney

Mary Poppins Solves Philip Quast’s Mid-life Crisis

Mary Poppins - A View From the Ensemble

Practically Perfect in Every Way

Sydney Rehearsal Preview Video.

Mary Poppins Composers Sing

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