Practically Perfect In Every Way:Mary Poppins

In a world where the standing ovation has been devalued, look no further than Disney’s Mary Poppins to understand the meaning of quality, and why last night’s show at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre deserved every ounce of appreciation from an ecstatic audience.

This magical musical from the pens of Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman with additional songs and music from George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, is the ultimate in family entertainment, leaving you with a lump in your throat and the audience screaming for more.

And, with two Aussies at the helm, Stefanie Jones in the title role with her sidekick, Jack Chambers as Bert – the cockney chimney sweep played so memorably in the film by family favourite, Dick ‘I sound American’ Van Dyke - who would have believed what a convincing couple this antipodean duo would make? But they were equally brilliant.

The ex Neighours actress, Jones, was magnificent, emulating Julie Andrews with all the panache and style of England’s cut glass export to Tinsel Town, while Chambers proved himself the ultimate song and dance man: a cracking actor, stylish tapper, great mover and, quite obviously, a perfectionist with an incredible eye for movement detail.

This really was the ultimate all-round musical, also featuring Michael D. Xavier, as George Banks, who I recently saw to great acclaim as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. Again, another big hitter who came with an excellent set of performance credentials including the part of Joe Gillis opposite Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard.

The experience on stage really shone through and I loved director, Richard Eyre’s considerable effort to give Mary Poppins an ethereal, out-of-this-world quality: she positively floated her way round the stage!

And then there was the brilliant choreography, notably Matthew Bourne had a hand in that, along with Bob Crowley’s superb scenic and costume designs: colourful & versatile.

There are 10 youngsters playing the roles of Jane and Michael Banks in rotation and, if the two I saw – Oli Manning and Connie Jones – are anything to go by, then the standard will be seamless.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoon Full of Sugar, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Feed the Birds….the old favourites kept coming

It is not often that the silence in a theatre can be heard, a moment when people are so mesmerised by the on stage magic they are witnessing – indeed, the special effects were brilliant and perfectly rehearsed - that there is no surreptitious texting, slurping of drinks or rattling of sweet wrappers, just pure enthral.

And top marks to Mrs nasty: Wendy Ferguson as horrible nanny, Miss Andrew!

This was an exuberant show, full of life affirming enthusiasm with a dash of Disney sentimentality thrown in for good measure.

But, at its heart, it enshrined the magic of T.P. Travers’ timeless nanny, Mary Poppins, the lady who blew in on the wind and got a dysfunctional family back on track.

A wonderfully, unashamed choker! Go, it will lift your soul and, in this unforgiving world, what’s wrong with that. Spit spot!

Mary Poppins
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Until Sunday 29th June (Evening & Matinee Performances)