There’s no ‘practically’ about it, Mary Poppins at the Bristol Hippodrome is completely and utterly perfect. Marking 20 years since it debuted to the world on this very stage, Cameron Mackintosh’s production of this beautiful family tale left many in the audience with goosebumps on skin, tears in eyes and jaws to the floor.
And, while we should be ashamed for doing so (after all, Mary herself would say we are not codfish) it was completely impossible not to be absolutely engulfed in the magical world of this wonderful nanny. The staging was impeccable and so intricately detailed, the sets could easily be displayed in some of the world’s finest art galleries.
Meanwhile, the mechanics of it all were flawless – magic was happening on that stage, and I truly believe the entire audience left with some in their pockets. The morning after we are still left wondering how on earth Mary Poppins’ bag works, among many other forms of trickery you’ll get to experience while enjoying the show.
The Banks’ house is an exquisite example of such mechanics too. Rooftops, fireplaces, toy boxes and all – without giving too much away.
When it came to the musical numbers, the standouts included the colourful Wonderland that is ‘Jolly Holiday’, the utterly sensational ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’, the heart warming ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’, the magical ‘Anything Can Happen’, and the jaw-dropping ‘Step In Time’, which contained choreography I, and many other audience members, have never seen on (or around) a stage before.
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The choreography throughout this production is ‘actually perfect’ too – how on earth any ordinary human being can faultlessly and rather effortlessly perform the routine of ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ at such speed is, quite frankly, beyond words.
And, speaking of the cast, I don’t think I have known a more perfect casting for a production than this one. Jack Chambers as Bert encapsulated everything we love about the character. His choreography was the best of the bunch, his voice immaculate, and he had one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the production during ‘Step In Time’ – there’s a reason he’s described as a ‘triple threat with a renowned reputation’.
The Banks family were also perfectly cast, and gave utterly wonderful performances. Michael D. Xavier and Lucie-Mae Sumner played the roles of George and Winifred Banks terrifically. While the younger stars of the family, Jane and Michael Banks (played on this occasion by Florence Swann and Charlie Donald, respectively) were nothing short of incredible. Their voices were enormous, they moved in time to some of the fastest choreography around, and they could bring grown adults to roars of laughter with their comedic timing.
All of the cast were equally exceptional and I wish I had the space here to write about each and every one individually, because they deserve the highest of praises. However, one individual stood out above them all – Mary Poppins herself, Stefanie Jones.
We all fell in love with Stefanie’s portrayal of the beloved nanny on Cherry Tree Lane, within seconds of meeting her. She IS Mary Poppins through and through, and we left truly believing that she is in fact the real thing, and Julie Andrews was asked to portray her in a film about her life some years ago. She’s up there with the best in the business.
Stefanie’s demeanour, voice, and facial expressions had the entire audience under a wonderful spell, and the monumental moments on stage – those including a giant umbrella, a sky full of stars, and a fair bit of flying – were some of the most beautiful moments in the world of musical theatre and production in general that I, and many around me, have ever seen.
This is a production that will stay with you for a lifetime. Timeless, magical, monumental and, in all honesty, more than perfect in every way.
Mary Poppins is playing at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday, November 30. Tickets are on sale here.