Practically Imperfect In Every Way - Mary Poppins

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 3:29pm

I'm not sure I can put into words just how disappointed I was in this show.

I was hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime theater experience, and it was far from that. I was disappointed not because I wanted to see a stage version of the film (I was praying that I didn't see that. I mean how pointless would that have been?); but because what I saw was nothing more than a mediocre stage musical. It had none of the elements that make a musical great. It was dull, joyless and dreary. Slow, too.

It seemed to me that the audience wanted to hear the songs they knew and loved. The only reaction the show got was to these numbers. Writing new songs for the show was really not a very good idea. They pale by comparison, and since the producers went out of their way to NOT make a stage version of the film, the show might have been better served with a completely new score. The best new number is "Practically Perfect", and that's not saying much. It's a pretty dull number. Also, the numbers that are from the film, are not done in the same way or in the same scenes. The execution of these numbers is unmemorable. Only "Step In Time" entertains. Even though they are nothing alike, it's impossible not to compare the show to the film, when many of the songs are the same. Also, they replaced songs from the film with really unmemorable ones. For example, "Cherry Tree Lane" is just dire, and doesn't begin to compare to the much better "The Life I Lead", used in the film. They should restore "The Life I Lead", immediately.

There is really nothing else to compare the stage show to the film, as they have nothing in common (with the exception of Mary's signature costume). There is nothing colorful or light about the production. Nothing magical or fun. The show is Gothic. Dark, dark, dark. Dreary, dreay, dreay. I can understand that the producers would want to paint the Banks' life as dark; but when Mary arrives, things remain just as dark -or darker! I was mentally screaming for something lovely and fun to happen. Miss Kelly looks like Joan Crawford, and I found her without stage presence in 'Fiddler' and without stage presence here. To go on is pointless. This show is a great big hit; but it doesn't deserve to be. It is riding on the success of the film (and although I haven't read them, I hear it has gotten inexplicably good reviews). It appeared to me that many people in the audience seemed disappointed. I know I was!

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 4:41pm

bump

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 4:47pm

Wow. Tres interesting. I heard "Step In Time" was show- stoppingly awesome? Hmm.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 4:48pm

Yes, it is excellent. It would be good in any production; but I think it seems even better in this one, because every other number is so dire.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 6:04pm

There was really no need for you to bump your own thread dissing a show.
I'm sure the terrible things you've mentioned are why it made back its entire investment in two days.

Updated On: 1/23/05 at 06:04 PM

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:08pm

I bumped my own thread because someone asked about it on another thread. You bumped it by saying, virtually, nothing. Making back its investment in two days doesn't make it a good show. "Cats" is one of the worst shows ever. Actually, it's THE worst. Its hit status notwithstanding.

Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:08 PM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:26pm

See, I went into the show knowing it was different, and I loved it. SUre, there were a few dull parts, but on the whole, I loved it, and I sat through the show for almost 4 hours when they were fixing a technical glitch with the house set for nearly an hour. I loved, and I would see it again here.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 7:32pm

I wish I had loved it. I certainly didn't go to see it, hoping I would hate it. I also knew it would be different from the film. I didn't have an issue with that. My issue was that it wasn't any good. I was not entertained. I found the leading lady, unattractive and without any stage presence. I found the new songs lousy, and the old ones, not up to their film counterparts. Mostly, I hated how dreary it was. What did you like about it?

Updated On: 1/23/05 at 07:32 PM