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Magical Mary Poppins
By Jenny Platt
In many shows, and even some Broadway musicals, there is a stark imbalance between the actors’ performances and the general production value. There is always a factor that tips the scales to one side or the other, leading more than a few audience members to comment, “well, at least they had a nice set.”
In the case of Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson Theatre, they did indeed have a marvelous  set – and outstanding performances, jaw-dropping choreography and colorful costumes to boot. Perhaps the balance of “precision and order” and “a spoonful of sugar” is what makes this show “practically perfect” in every way, doing the original Mary Poppins justice, and then some.
The story opens with everyone’s favorite jack of all trades, the nimble and soot-coated Bert (Gavin Lee) introducing the story. Like Puck of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bert narrates as he watches the story unfold, sweeping away set pieces and blowing curtains right off the stage. Lee is incredibly cast in a roll that few men could pull off, even receiving kudos from his movie predecessor Dick Van Dyke during the curtain call on opening night.
From the moment Mary Poppins (Ashley Brown) appears on stage, she has both a hypnotic presence and a pompous air about her, yet she sings effortlessly with a voice so sweet it needs no extra sugar. Brown adds her own snarky flair in her interpretation of the beloved  nanny, with just a tad more bite than Julie Andrews’ version. However, she is still the caretaker that every child dreams of, and every member of the audience wishes he had.
Often times child actors fall victim to line memorization with very little realism to their acting. But not to worry, the Jane and Michael Banks of this Broadway show play their characters exactly as they ought to, with both stubbornness and childlike wonder.
I would be remiss to omit a description of the exquisitely picturesque set pieces and amazing effects. This was one of the most visually stunning shows I’ve ever seen, with each new fly-in even more beautiful than the next. From a blue sky with colorful kites  sailing on the wind to a finely-detailed bank building dome, the story of Mary Poppins becomes a stroll through Bert’s colorful little paintings on Cherry Tree Lane. Director Richard Eyre and the entire scenic design team truly deserve their own personal standing ovation for the magic they bring to life on stage, a tough thing to achieve considering the movie was filled to the brim with vibrant animations.
Similarly, choreographers Stephen Mear and Matthew Bourne are dance instructors to be hailed. The moves they dreamt up for “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” could not have been easy to teach the ensemble, with a different hand motion or move for practically every syllable of the song’s title. I won’t give away the most jaw-dropping stunt of all, but I will recommend that you keep your eyes wide open during “Step in Time” for a high-wire act that will leave you wondering how in the world it was accomplished.
A review of this much-adored musical would not be complete without mentioning the music. The well-known score had the audience clapping along to “Step in Time” and swooning to “Chim Chim Cher-ee”. New songs include the hilarious “Practically Perfect” that will have Los Angeles mommies from the east side to the west side bringing home pink Practically Perfect tees for their little princesses, and “Brimstone and Treacle,” sung by the holy terror herself, Miss Andrew (Ellen Harvey). Although Miss Andrew is a new character for those who were fans of the film, she is a recurring character of the Mary Poppins books, and a humorous if not frightening plot-thickener for the Broadway show. Watch (and listen) for the musical dual between Mary Poppins and Miss Andrew in the second act – it’s a melodious match not to be missed!
Never a huge fan of the movie myself, I was quite surprised at how long it took me to wipe the satisfied smile from my face after the theatre lights came up. It is rare to sit through a nearly three hour performance finding nothing to criticize, a testament to the hardworking cast and crew who have together created a musical and visual masterpiece that audience members won’t forget for years to come.
Relive the awe of your youth at Mary Poppins, playing at the Ahmanson Theatre through February 7th and see for yourself what magic sails in on the wind. Tickets may be purchased online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or by calling 213-972-4400.
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