Mary Poppins - Prince Edward Theatre

[Stephen]

Does the use of the touring style set mean that they scrapped the original?

[Jon]

Oct 25, 2019 16:50:31 GMT Stephen said:

Does the use of the touring style set mean that they scrapped the original?

The original set is long gone. Broadway was the last production to use it and that closed in 2013

[AddisonMizner]

I am finally going to book for this. The original MARY POPPINS film holds a very special place in my heart, but I have never seen it on stage.

Sorry to be THAT person, but where is the best place to sit for this? I am not bothered about price for this. I just want an optimal position.

[Being Alive]

Oct 25, 2019 20:55:10 GMT AddisonMizner said:

I am finally going to book for this. The original MARY POPPINS film holds a very special place in my heart, but I have never seen it on stage.

Sorry to be THAT person, but where is the best place to sit for this? I am not bothered about price for this. I just want an optimal position.

I would suggest centre front stalls. IT'll be expensive, but for so many bits it will be worth it

[Phantom of London]

Oct 25, 2019 20:55:10 GMT AddisonMizner said:

I am finally going to book for this. The original MARY POPPINS film holds a very special place in my heart, but I have never seen it on stage.

Sorry to be THAT person, but where is the best place to sit for this? I am not bothered about price for this. I just want an optimal position.

Not too close, as you won’t really see the flying and not too far back as you will benefit from seeing the whole proscenium arch. 

Oddly enough for a cheap ticket, the upper circle may not be a bad option, by which I mean it would be better than a more expensive ticket at the back of the stalls.

[westended]

When is Press Night?

[popcultureboy]

Oct 25, 2019 21:50:53 GMT westended said:

When is Press Night?

13th November. Upper Circle is on sale though

[AddisonMizner]

Thanks for the help RE seating.

Do you miss any of the flying in the Front Stalls?

[mrbarnaby]

Oct 26, 2019 9:54:54 GMT AddisonMizner said:

Thanks for the help RE seating.

Do you miss any of the flying in the Front Stalls?

Wow if you miss the flying and you sit in the front stalls, this show is in trouble.

[boq1984]

Absolutely not - was sat in Row F on Wednesday and the flying was great. Mary’s final flight is something quite magical. Depending where you are sat in the front stalls she could fly right over you.

[Mark]

I was front row and she flew right over me - certainly nothing missed.

[BurlyBeaR]

I wonder if it’s the audience reaction, particularly from the upper levels, that makes that final flight “magical” rather than the flight itself. Because let’s face it she does nowt apart from point her feet at right angles and hold up the umbrella. It’s incredibly tame really, but the audience react like she’s sprouted wings or something. If you look at it in YouTube it’s underwhelming to say the least.

[mrbarnaby]

Oct 26, 2019 13:35:32 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

I wonder if it’s the audience reaction, particularly from the upper levels, that makes that final flight “magical” rather than the flight itself. Because let’s face it she does nowt apart from point her feet at right angles and hold up the umbrella. It’s incredibly tame really, but the audience react like she’s sprouted wings or something. If you look at it in YouTube it’s underwhelming to say the least.

Also the wires she flies on are so visible. I found when she flies onstage it’s much more magical.

[steve10086]

It’s nothing to do with the technical wizardry or the visibility of the wires. It’s the emotion invested in the character that brings a tear to the eye when she flies.

[BurlyBeaR]

Oct 26, 2019 18:18:21 GMT steve10086 said:

It’s nothing to do with the technical wizardry or the visibility of the wires. It’s the emotion invested in the character that brings a tear to the eye when she flies.

Yes, that’s what I said, it’s about the audience reaction rather than the effect itself which is pretty basic. 

[theatreian]

And here's me thinking that Mary Poppins can actually fly!

[appoul]

Oct 26, 2019 21:47:59 GMT theatreian said:

And here's me thinking that Mary Poppins can actually fly!

Of course she can! She's Mary Poppins!

[danb]

I do wonder why, in an environment of supposedly creative people, some are unable to suspend disbelief. The world that MP spends three hours creating more than supports the wonder of Mary’s flight at the end. If you don’t buy into the magic throughout it probably won’t, because *spoiler, people can’t actually fly. Nor do magic. Nor manipulate space and time via carpet bag. 🤷‍♂️

[Deleted]

Oct 27, 2019 8:17:38 GMT danb said:

I do wonder why, in an environment of supposedly creative people, some are unable to suspend disbelief. The world that MP spends three hours creating more than supports the wonder of Mary’s flight at the end. If you don’t buy into the magic throughout it probably won’t, because *spoiler, people can’t actually fly. Nor do magic. Nor manipulate space and time via carpet bag. 🤷‍♂️

100%

(Also, for the practical minded, how on earth other than by using wires could she come out over the auditorium?!)

[danb]

Oct 27, 2019 8:51:59 GMT @sharpe12 said:

Oct 27, 2019 8:17:38 GMT danb said:

I do wonder why, in an environment of supposedly creative people, some are unable to suspend disbelief. The world that MP spends three hours creating more than supports the wonder of Mary’s flight at the end. If you don’t buy into the magic throughout it probably won’t, because *spoiler, people can’t actually fly. Nor do magic. Nor manipulate space and time via carpet bag. 🤷‍♂️

100%

(Also, for the practical minded, how on earth other than by using wires could she come out over the auditorium?!)

Doh!! Levitation obviously! 😂

[david]

Oct 27, 2019 8:51:59 GMT @sharpe12 said:

Oct 27, 2019 8:17:38 GMT danb said:

I do wonder why, in an environment of supposedly creative people, some are unable to suspend disbelief. The world that MP spends three hours creating more than supports the wonder of Mary’s flight at the end. If you don’t buy into the magic throughout it probably won’t, because *spoiler, people can’t actually fly. Nor do magic. Nor manipulate space and time via carpet bag. 🤷‍♂️

100%

(Also, for the practical minded, how on earth other than by using wires could she come out over the auditorium?!)

She drinks plenty of the red bull drink (she probably needs it after dealing with the kids). As the slogan says - “Red Bull gives you wings”. No need for any wires!

[isabel]

What are the Grand Circle slip seats like ?

[horton]

It is quite clunky though.

[danb]

Oct 27, 2019 16:30:35 GMT horton said:

It is quite clunky though.

Apparently there isn’t the room for a full flying crane, (nor will the floor support it) as utilised by David Copperfield to create a more realistic illusion for television. Shocking really with those prices. You’d have thought that they’d have invented silent jet packs by now really. This is Cameron Mackintosh ffs!!!

[emeraldbaudelaire]

I have to say I had a really underwhelming experience with Mary Poppins when I first caught it on the UK Tour, the audience was quite possibly the worst I had experienced with a show, it was back when it played in the Bord Gais Theatre in Dublin. Constant disruptions and toilet breaks mid scene from the woman in front of us, a rowdy biligerent drunk and abusive man behind us swearing at his children and singing loudly over the songs causing disruptions to the audience and arguing with them. A lot of audience members alerted the staff and nothing was done, various moments flash photographed it was a real shame for those who had proper theatre ediquette, the children were better behaved than the parents.

The show itself had a few great numbers and was very high energy but I found it lost a lot of the magical whimsy of the film and seemed more grounded in reality and darker. The banking scenes in particular where losing my interest but Zizi was spectacular and made the part her own.