Nearly 20 years have passed, since I watched the Mary Poppins movie. Of course, we can all recall the famous songs and themes like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Chim Chimney”, but as an adult, I was interested in experiencing the classic film on stage, presented by Theater of the Stars, at the Fox Theatre.
The moment we walked into the Fox Theatre, we could hear the chatter of little girls, dressed in perfect spring outfits, excited to see Mary Poppins live and in person. Their enthusiasm made you feel like a kid again.
When the musical started, I quickly remembered some of my favorite moments in Mary Poppins. The bottomless purse/travel bag is still impressive! Where does all of that stuff come from and how do they do it? A tree, a clock, a mirror! Nowadays, I commonly refer to my purse as the Mary Poppins bag and I’m sure there are plenty of ladies out there who do the same!
As an adult, the story in Mary Poppins is much more obvious. I did not remember that the mother and father were having marital and financial struggles, and that the father was raised by a “Holy Terror” of a nanny who never showed an ounce of tenderness.
The theatrics and the set of the live musical are simply beautiful and bright. I can easily understand how the colors and performances mesmerize and distract children. The dancing and singing throughout the show are loads of fun too. The child actors never miss a beat, Mary is full of sarcastic and charming humor, and Bert (the chimney sweep) is the perfect gentleman. I’ve also always held a special place for the old woman who sings “Feed the Birds”. The song is still beautiful and haunting.
There are dozens of great scenes throughout this musical, but the “Chim Chimney” performance with the chimney sweeps tap dancing across the stage is definitely an audience favorite. STOMP must have been inspired by this movie!
In the end, Mary Poppins is a feel good story, a reminder to us all, that we sometimes need to lighten up and embrace our inner child. Go fly a kite this weekend!
Mary Poppins is on stage NOW through Sunday, April 7th at the Fox Theatre. It’s truly a show for everyone, so take the kids or head out with your friends! It’s a magical evening.
Tickets are available via the link below, by calling 1-855-ATL-TIXX, or pick up your tickets at a Whole Foods Market store, Criminal Records, & Decatur CD.
