Mary Poppins - Prince Edward Theatre

[FairyGodmother]

I remember not liking her accent much (see also Emily Blunt in the film). Yes, it should arguably should be crisper and have slightly different vowel sounds than you hear today, but some of them really push it to the realms of parody.

[Jon]

I saw Scarlett Strallen as Mary in the original production and thought she was good but would have loved to have seen Laura Michelle Kelly or Lisa O'Hare.

[Deleted]

For me Scarlett is the bench mark. Followed by Poppy Tierney, Caroline Sheen, LMK and finally Zizi

[David J]

Never liked Zizi's singing either. I'm not a vocal expert but the way she sings vowels in the higher and lower notes sounds nasally with an uncontrolled trill.

First time hearing her sing "Practically pEEErfect in every wAAAy!". Oof!

Also prefer Laura Michelle Kelly's poised and collected Mary Poppins, whereas Zizi's is beams and smiles all the time.

I've seen Charlie Stemp do cockney in Half a Sixpence. Yet somehow he has to exaggerate it here.

[mrbarnaby]

I think Zizi is a very talented performer but she just isn’t my idea of Mary Poppins. 1- she looks 12 years old. 2 - her voice is way too nasal.

Why is CM obsessed with casting this role too young now? I long to see an older performer play it. Someone who actually feels like they may have experienced some life. Any life.

Interesting to see him say he would “love” to see a black Mary Poppins , or Asian. Ain’t gonna happen I bet.

[Jon]

Aug 30, 2021 20:17:32 GMT mrbarnaby said:

I think Zizi is a very talented performer but she just isn’t my idea of Mary Poppins. 1- she looks 12 years old. 2 - her voice is way too nasal.

Why is CM obsessed with casting this role too young now? I long to see an older performer play it. Someone who actually feels like they may have experienced some life. Any life.

Interesting to see him say he would “love” to see a black Mary Poppins , or Asian. Ain’t gonna happen I bet.

I think the Travers estate and possibly Disney would veto that sort of casting for Mary! 

An older Mary would be interesting casting but I suspect that Disney wants Mary as a character to be eternally young when depicted on stage or screen.

[FairyGodmother]

Julie Andrews was 28/29 (and would have been younger if she hadn't been expecting a baby when they first asked her to do it).

[Jon]

Aug 30, 2021 20:30:44 GMT FairyGodmother said:

Julie Andrews was 28/29 (and would have been younger if she hadn't been expecting a baby when they first asked her to do it).

I'm probably wrong but I think PL Travers didn't approve of Julie Andrews as Mary although TBH she didn't approve of anything that was in the film!

[sph]

I found Zizi Strallen a bit too smiley, stagey and overly-sweet for my liking. Mary Poppins is actually quite stern and direct. Having seen her in Half a Sixpence, I think Emma Williams would be perfect. She has that perfect crisp delivery and the gravitas and poise of Mary Poppins.

[Being Alive]

I do wish that Becky Lock had come back to play Mary - she understudied it in final cast of the original production - I agree that it's a role that feels like it should be a touch older than its currently being played (at least with Scarlett she read a bit older!)

[Deleted]

Emma Williams has been down to final couple before but never got cast.i agree she would be awesome and it's such a shame she never got her moment.

Although Julie Andrews was in her late 20s, she didn't look it. She has this ageless quality about her, neither particularly young or old. Zizi looks very young. I also agree about the possessed smileyness.

Considering Camerons recent comments about trans actors I'm surprised he seems so open on race. I'm not saying race is a gimmick itself, but cameron does use anything possible that differentiates an actor or production as a marketing/pr angle to create headlines.

[notmymuse]

If ever a role screamed Emma Williams it's this one. She can move but I don't think she's a trained dancer so I wonder if that's why? Zizi, although I agree with other posters that she doesn't sing in a way that's to my taste, can dance like few others.

[princeton]

Joanna Riding did some of the early readings and was rumoured to be a front runner - but then it was decided to go much younger and 23 year old Laura Michele Kelly was cast (she'd previously replaced Riding in the Mackintosh My Fair Lady) - thereafter early/mid 20's seemed to be the default casting. It would have put an interesting and different slant on the story if Jo Riding had played Mary as she would have been a similar age to Mrs Banks (Linzi Hateley in the original).

Of all the Marys I saw - Caroline Sheen (in the UK and then US tour) was my favourite and I think it's because she was a little older than her west end counterparts, and it felt as though she had a few years of work under her belt rather than being straight out of nanny school.

[Mark]

Now offering “magic seats” for £30 on TodayTix.
Just rush but £5 more so not sure what’s so magic 😂.

[Dr Tom]

Sept 1, 2021 12:48:06 GMT Mark said:

Now offering “magic seats” for £30 on TodayTix.
Just rush but £5 more so not sure what’s so magic 😂.

I did try at exactly 10:00am today, but they were already all allocated. Didn't see any more appear later either. Was anyone successful and, if so, what seats were on offer?

[vabbian]

Sept 1, 2021 14:15:40 GMT Dr Tom said:

Sept 1, 2021 12:48:06 GMT Mark said:

Now offering “magic seats” for £30 on TodayTix.
Just rush but £5 more so not sure what’s so magic 😂.

I did try at exactly 10:00am today, but they were already all allocated. Didn't see any more appear later either. Was anyone successful and, if so, what seats were on offer?

I got Dress Circle row B
£125 down to £30

[vabbian]

3/5 stars

This musical is saved by the Supercali number and tap dance number

[Dr Tom]

I managed to get a Magic Seat yesterday. Fourth row of the Stalls, to the side, but a good row. The rake is not good there though.

A detailed announcement at the start about phones and sweets, but nothing about masks! Most people didn't wear them. I couldn't find a cast board either (if it was there, it's in a part of the theatre you're ushered away from).

I think all the leads were on, but it's hard to tell. The children were very good. I've only just looked at the cast list to find out it was Harry Francis hiding away as a statue, which really doesn't allow him to show his physique at its best.

I enjoyed watching this much more than I remember with previous viewings, despite being surrounded by a very fidgety audience. Perhaps it's just the joy of seeing a big production up close? It's still the kind of show where viewing once a year is enough, but it's an excellent deal if you can get a decent Magic Seat.

[mrbarnaby]

Aug 31, 2021 19:57:20 GMT princeton said:

Joanna Riding did some of the early readings and was rumoured to be a front runner - but then it was decided to go much younger and 23 year old Laura Michele Kelly was cast (she'd previously replaced Riding in the Mackintosh My Fair Lady) - thereafter early/mid 20's seemed to be the default casting. It would have put an interesting and different slant on the story if Jo Riding had played Mary as she would have been a similar age to Mrs Banks (Linzi Hateley in the original).

Of all the Marys I saw - Caroline Sheen (in the UK and then US tour) was my favourite and I think it's because she was a little older than her west end counterparts, and it felt as though she had a few years of work under her belt rather than being straight out of nanny school.

Ruthie has said that it was between her and LMK for the role originally but Cameron decided to go for a younger Mary. Such a shame she never got to play it, when she could sing properly.

[stagebyte]

Aug 31, 2021 19:14:02 GMT notmymuse said:

If ever a role screamed Emma Williams it's this one. She can move but I don't think she's a trained dancer so I wonder if that's why? Zizi, although I agree with other posters that she doesn't sing in a way that's to my taste, can dance like few others.

Well she was tap dancing away in memories of the musicals the other week at Kilworth after just having had a baby. I think she’d cope

[mrbarnaby]

Sept 3, 2021 13:12:21 GMT stagebyte said:

Aug 31, 2021 19:14:02 GMT notmymuse said:

If ever a role screamed Emma Williams it's this one. She can move but I don't think she's a trained dancer so I wonder if that's why? Zizi, although I agree with other posters that she doesn't sing in a way that's to my taste, can dance like few others.

Well she was tap dancing away in memories of the musicals the other week at Kilworth after just having had a baby. I think she’d cope

I think nearly all performers are ‘trained’ dancers these days. LMK wasn’t known for kicking her legs behind her ears, but danced it properly.

[steve10086]

Sept 3, 2021 13:00:05 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Aug 31, 2021 19:57:20 GMT princeton said:

Joanna Riding did some of the early readings and was rumoured to be a front runner - but then it was decided to go much younger and 23 year old Laura Michele Kelly was cast (she'd previously replaced Riding in the Mackintosh My Fair Lady) - thereafter early/mid 20's seemed to be the default casting. It would have put an interesting and different slant on the story if Jo Riding had played Mary as she would have been a similar age to Mrs Banks (Linzi Hateley in the original).

Of all the Marys I saw - Caroline Sheen (in the UK and then US tour) was my favourite and I think it's because she was a little older than her west end counterparts, and it felt as though she had a few years of work under her belt rather than being straight out of nanny school.

Ruthie has said that it was between her and LMK for the role originally but Cameron decided to go for a younger Mary. Such a shame she never got to play it, when she could sing properly.

Phew, that was a narrow escape!

[FairyGodmother]

Aug 31, 2021 18:49:24 GMT @mark84 said:

Considering Camerons recent comments about trans actors I'm surprised he seems so open on race. I'm not saying race is a gimmick itself, but cameron does use anything possible that differentiates an actor or production as a marketing/pr angle to create headlines.

He does definitely use it for marketing if he can! Saying that though, in lots of shows* as long as your ensemble has a mixture of races**, I don't think it really matters what race the principals are, as long as they can sing/act/dance the part as it should be done. And in practically every musical, the principal has the big solos.

With trans actors you're always going to be far more limited by vocal range (and the small pool of actors).

*Obviously not something like Showboat or South Pacific.

**I'm caveating this because I don't think "colour-blind casting" would work in all cases — say My Fair Lady with a black Eliza, and all-white ensemble. You'd have to be very very careful to not have people questioning whether it's just her accent or actually her skin colour, unless that was the sort of interpretation you were going for.

[appoul]

Aug 30, 2021 20:48:03 GMT Jon said:

Aug 30, 2021 20:30:44 GMT FairyGodmother said:

Julie Andrews was 28/29 (and would have been younger if she hadn't been expecting a baby when they first asked her to do it).

I'm probably wrong but I think PL Travers didn't approve of Julie Andrews as Mary although TBH she didn't approve of anything that was in the film!

Actually Julie Andrews was one of the few things she approved of--and she said that had she been directed properly, she would have been even better as Mary Poppins.
Also, when casting Julie Andrews Disney asked Travers herself how old Mary Poppins is and she replied "26 or 27".
In general, I like Zizi, but I believe that all productions after 2016 present Mary Poppins more as a caricature. I don't know if this is Richard Eyre's decision or CM or a resident director's. I saw the Mexican production and although Mary has a wonderful voice, the way shes goes up the stairs is way too comical for me.
Sometimes I do miss LMK's mysterious aura or Scarlett's performance (better than LMK at dancing). 

[mrbarnaby]

Sept 7, 2021 16:12:24 GMT appoul said:

Aug 30, 2021 20:48:03 GMT Jon said:

I'm probably wrong but I think PL Travers didn't approve of Julie Andrews as Mary although TBH she didn't approve of anything that was in the film!

Actually Julie Andrews was one of the few things she approved of--and she said that had she been directed properly, she would have been even better as Mary Poppins.
Also, when casting Julie Andrews Disney asked Travers herself how old Mary Poppins is and she replied "26 or 27".
In general, I like Zizi, but I believe that all productions after 2016 present Mary Poppins more as a caricature. I don't know if this is Richard Eyre's decision or CM or a resident director's. I saw the Mexican production and although Mary has a wonderful voice, the way shes goes up the stairs is way too comical for me.
Sometimes I do miss LMK's mysterious aura or Scarlett's performance (better than LMK at dancing). 

It will totally be Cameron’s meddling that is cheapening this show slowly but surely. Just waiting for the day he gets a Phantom or Les Mis reference/plug in it.