Steve Daly

Forget the affable super-nanny of Disney's 1964 movie musical, Mary Poppins. As reconceived by director Richard Eyre (Iris) and codirector Matthew Bourne (the dance genius behind 1998's très gay Swan Lake), Mary (Ashley Brown) becomes a smug therapist to the cranky, morose Banks family. Lessons abound, including a creepy scene where little Jane and Michael are put on trial by their toys. Imported from London, this adaptation teeters between saccharine and tart in what feels like a creative tug-of-war. 'I'm practically perfect,' Mary trills. More like oddly schizophrenic.