If you’ve seen the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks, you’ll know that author P.L. Travers wasn’t thrilled with the way her beloved Mary Poppins books about a magical English nanny were transformed into the 1964 Disney movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.
Much as I love the Disney classic, I understand her displeasure because it changed the tone of the stories pretty drastically.
When a stage musical version of Mary Poppins was produced in London’s West End in 2004 and then on Broadway in 2006, a lot of things were changed and an interesting hybrid was created — and it’s the Broadway version that Theatre Cambrian is presenting during the month of May.
Many (but not all) of the movie songs were kept and new songs added. More characters from the first two Poppins books were included along with their stories, like the Banks family’s lazy odd-jobs man, Robertson Ay, ancient Mrs. Corry who sells sweets and words (like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious), Mr. Banks’ childhood nanny, Miss Andrew, and some park statues that come to life. If you’re a fan of the Disney film, you’ll find it jarring that the movie songs are often used in very different places and contexts in the stage musical.
They’re changed around with new lyrics and sometimes different tempos. It’s all done to serve the new storyline, which places more emphasis on the bad behaviour of the Banks children, Jane and Michael, and on the work troubles of their father, George. For instance, the kids’ abuse of their toys forces the toys to teach them a lesson. And we learn how George’s upbringing has made him cold to his own children.
The Broadway production could dazzle the audience with elaborate (and expensive) magic effects. On a community theatre budget, Theatre Cambrian has to make up for that with energy and enthusiasm, creative lighting, and some great costumes, especially in the magical toys scene.
The volunteer cast gives its all. Veronica Villeneuve as Michael, and Trinity Thibeault as Jane, are excellent — precocious and engaging. Anthony Briand shakes off the shadow of Dick Van Dyke and puts his own capable stamp on the character of Bert. The strong vocal abilities of Sarah Ball as Mary Poppins, Angel Mannisto as Winifred Banks, and Francine Roy-Irvine as Mrs. Corry and the Bird Woman are highlights of the show. And Tanya Saari as Mrs. Brill draws more than her share of laughs.
Mary Poppins The Broadway Musical is a very different creation from the Disney movie. The more you put aside your memories of the film, and approach the stage show as something fresh, the more you’ll enjoy it.
Mary Poppins runs at Theatre Cambrian through May 21. The box office number is 705-524-7317 or go online to TheatreCambrian.ca.
Scott Overton is the author of the thriller Dead Air. He writes theatre reviews for Northern Life and Sudbury.com.
