Mary Poppins

Editorial

Sydney: May - 17 Dec 2011
Where: Capitol Theatre, Sydney
Bookings: Ticketmaster

Brisbane: 6 Jan - 4 Mar 2012
Where: Lyric Theatre, QPAC
Bookings: Showbiz 

Based on the much-loved children's books by Australian author P.L.Travers, and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins is a spellbinding new musical about a magical nanny who brings love and wonder to an unhappy London family.

Theatre legend Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical Productions co-present this new production, already acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic, which features such classic songs as A Spoonful of Sugar, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds, as well as brand new tunes written specially for the show.

Whereas the character of Mary Poppins was considerably vain and short-tempered in Travers' original books, the film version softened the character, making her altogether more charming. The musical combines her traits, making her an intimidating foil to Mr and Mrs Banks, but a friend to their children Michael and Jane.

After an Australia and New Zealand-wide search in which over a thousand singers auditioned for the lead role, Adelaide's Verity Hunt-Ballard (currently appearing in Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) won the coveted role of Mary Poppins.

She is joined by Matt Lee as the cheery Cockney chimney-sweep Bert and Debra Byrne as The Bird Woman, in a show that is sure to rekindle your childhood sense of wonder at the world, where everyday life can be just as magical as fantasy.

Richard Watts, Citysearch

Find more arts events on Citysearch