I won't lie, I'm not the biggest fan of musicals, but
Mary Poppins sure surprised me. The musical went all out with contagious and spectacular numbers. From the magical moment of a flying Mary Poppins to the good-humoured banter between characters, children and adults alike will be thoroughly impressed. Mary Poppins delivers surprise after surprise.
It also helps that Verity Hunt-Ballard, who plays Mary Poppins, is a delight to watch. Her facial expressions are on point and her character very believable. Accompanying Hunt-Ballard is Matt Lee (who you'll recognise as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance) as Bert. I'm an avid SYTYCD fan, but I had never actually witnessed whether Matt Lee's is talented or not. I was happy to discover that he's not only a good dancer, but also a triple threat with his singing and acting abilities.
But what really steals the show is the absolutely stunning set and consume design. Bob Crowley, responsible for the scenic and costume design, outdid himself. The set folds out, rolls out, and moves as if by magic. The costumes are not only intricate, but absolutely vibrant in their colour and design. Lighting designer Howard Harrison magnifies the enchanting visuals through illusions of rain, constellations, and dramatic changes in colour schemes.
The choreography is spot-on and a pleasure to watch. Choreographically, the ensemble pieces are the most exciting. Statues turn to life and start pirouetting across the stage and a lively tap scene culminates in a solo by Matt Lee. Most impressive though are the cable tricks - I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for you.
The highlight of the night is the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious number by far. It will leave a smile plastered on your face for sure. The choreography in this number is fast and precise. Being a dancer myself, I was looking out for any of the ensemble cast members to mess it up. Nobody did.
The cast give a convincing performance acting-wise. I was particularly inspired by the two children, Lexie Duncan as Jane and Cameron Holmes as Michael. They sang with heart, they kept up with the choreography, and all the while they made me laugh. Their charming personality won me over.
The musical isn't just fun and games though. Emotional moments between the parents and children leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy, and haunting moments like the Bird Woman scene are amplified by the eerie lighting. The finale will leave your mouth wide agape, I assure it. Even without 'a spoonful of sugar', Mary Poppins converted me, the musical skeptic, into a believer.
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