As the stage lights up, the familiar view of chimney tops against the twilight backdrop of the London skyline comes into view. A spotlight breaks through the dark landing on a lone chimney sweep. He begins to sing the beloved words of “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” and the audience is instantly wrapped up in the world of “Mary Poppins” at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Rachel Wallace, who plays Mary Poppins, is “practically perfect” in every way. On top of her tremendous brigade of talent ““ flawless singing, dancing and acting ““ she truly recaptures the essence of Julie Andrews’ in the original screen version of “Mary Poppins.”
Alongside Wallace is leading man Nicholas Dromard as Bert the chimney sweep. While he sometimes lacks the presence that Dick Van Dyke so easily commanded, and his accent occasionally falters, Dromard creates a sweeter Bert, easily making him one of the most lovable characters on stage.
Aside from these two main characters, the rest of the cast generally deviates from the original film, but the changes are not necessarily unwelcome. Many of the characters, namely the Banks family, are altered to bring depth to the story by adding societal criticisms that weren’t as prevalent on-screen.
The new portrayals of classic characters convey messages on gender roles, the restrictions of society and what it means to be a quality person. Audience members cannot help but root for Mr. and Mrs. Banks as they face these difficult questions and grow up alongside their children with the careful guidance of Mary Poppins.
This musical is chock-full of bold song and dance numbers. Performances from the supporting cast make these a pleasure to watch as they showcase a wide range of vocal and dancing talent. Unlike most musicals, “Mary Poppins” finds a way to incorporate contemporary ballet, tap and pairs dancing for a variety of talent while staying true to the style of the production. Much of the time, the audience couldn’t help but clap along.
Behind the performers, vibrant and detailed stage-sets take this show to the next level. Neutral tones and soft lines make up the beautiful yet realistic sets for the park, the Banks’ home and the bank. However, with Mary Poppins around, fantastical worlds are just around the corner. Hugely colorful costumes, sets and lights transform the stage into a vivid and magical place perfect for Mary Poppins’ games.
The real charm of “Mary Poppins” is in the story. Along with all of the favorite musical numbers, including “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” seven new songs such as “Brimstone and Treacle” and “Practically Perfect” help create a richer narrative to tell the familiar story. The cartooned horse race from the original, for example, is swapped out for Mrs. Corry’s Conversation shop, a favorite hang out of a younger Mr. Banks, and the setting for “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” The addition of new characters, including the dreaded nanny Mrs. Andrews as a dynamic foil to Mary Poppins, further enhance the plot.
While the show is very reminiscent of the classic Disney film, it revamps the story enough to make a fresh production. Individuals who loved and grew up with the original find themselves transported on a pleasant trip down memory lane. Meanwhile, a younger generation can discover the wonders of a “spoonful of sugar” right alongside their parents and grandparents.