Customer Reviews

Mary Poppins (Original London Cast 2005)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This C.D. is more than worth it's pricetag- I was lucky enough to see the show in London's West End when I was in London. The show in short is AMAZING- it's a show that brings ADULTs and kids to their feets and makes you leave the theater believing that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Based on the classic movie- the show has only ehanced those classic songs/feelings captured in the movie- with the addition of many more adventures. The songs added fit perfectly among the Sherman brothers orginal ones and the cast in SUPER.

Laura Michelle Kelly is MARY POPPINS- much more than a look-a-like but captures the whole spirit or what Mary Poppins is. David Haig is perfectly cast as George Banks and unlike the movie has more depth about his sterness. But, my favorite cast member is Gavin Lee who IS Bert- possibly better than Dick Van Dyke- in the show singing and dancing upside down. And has an increadiable voice to match all that talent!

My favorite new songs would have to be "Anything Can Happen" and the newly refurbished "Step In Time." After listening to this C.D. you'll find yourself believing "Anything Can Happen If You Let It." I can't wait- until this magical show casts it's spell on Broadway! Broadway or Mary Poppins fan or Disney fans must have this recording in their collections! Hit the buy now button and let yourself be charmed by Mary Poppins as well.

I heard the Mary Poppins was making it's way to Broadway and taking over the Lion King's theater (The Lion King is moving to another theater, not closing) I knew it had to be amazing so I bought the cast album and I am extremly happy with my purchase.

Not only are the original Mary Poppins songs from the movie in the show, new, extended versions of old ones and better ones are.
standouts include:
Cherry Tree Lane Part 1
The Perfect Nanny
Cherry Tree Lane Part 2
Practically Perfect
Jolly Holiday
Cherry Tree Lane (Reprise)
Being Mrs. Banks
A Spoonful of Sugar
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Temper, Temper
Chim Chim Cher-Ee (Rooftop Duet)
Brimstone and Treacle
Let's Go Fly a Kite
Step in Time
Anything Can Happen

The story is has also been altered from the movie to incorporate things from the seven original Mary Poppins books.

Although this show is produced by disney it isn't a disney musical. This recording is wonderful and so full of music and lyrics that inspire those emotion and memories of being a child. Buy it!

I saw this musical on Broadway December 2006. I simply adored it. It was spectacular. I was hesitant about buying the London Cast Album, because of how much I enjoyed the NYC Broadway's stage version after hearing that they added and revised some songs. (Broadway hasn't made their album yet). A friend ended up buying this London Cast Album for me. From memory, the London Cast Album is missing the "Tuppence" song and other songs from the Bank scenes I think. The Practically Perfect song was definitely done better on Broadway, given that the children put more attitude in it and Ashley Brown's Mary said it as if she meant it more, which I see as more realistic, rather then the sweet version the London cast did. Other than that, The London Cast is equal to the Broadway version I saw on stage from what I can remember a month later. Very Extraordinary and Uplifting. Supercalifragilisticexpildous.

While a lot of people were quite skeptical when Disney announced it's plans to turn MARY POPPINS into a stage musical, the final product was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Featuring an array of brand-new songs, the stage version of "Poppins" is the perfect marriage of the Pamela Travers books and the Disney movie, drawing on the best elements of both to create an amazing musical theatre experience, and the original London cast is sensational.

Stepping (or rather flying) into the title role, Laura-Michelle Kelly had to contend with the looming shadow of Julie Andrews, but she holds her own, delivering a solid performance. Gavin Lee, likewise, is a positive delight as Bert (as opposed to the Disney film, Bert becomes the audiences' guide into the story as well as the conduit between Mary Poppins and Mr Banks).

Playing Mr and Mrs Banks, David Haig and Linzi Hateley respectively give fully-nuanced performances. With the new number "Being Mrs Banks", Hateley brings a renewed clarity to the misunderstood character of the Banks matriarch.

Rosemary Ashe completely devours her role of Miss Andrew (Mr Banks' monstrous childhood nanny who is called back into service to take charge of Jane and Michael). The number "Brimstone and Treacle", the anthem of Miss Andrews' own particular method of child-rearing, is turned into a complete and utter showstopper. Ms Ashe is probably best-known for originating the role of Carlotta in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera".

The new musical numbers from George Stiles and Anthony Drewe perfectly complement the original - and much beloved - Richard & Robert Sherman melodies from the film. "Temper Temper" is a dream sequence where Jane and Michael are held for trial by their toys; "Practically Perfect" is an energetic opening number for Mary Poppins; and "Cherry Tree Lane" sets up the Banks household and the various characters within it. "Anything Can Happen", Mary's parting message to the Banks family, is very emotional and sums up the essential core values of the story.

You are bound to get swept away by this enchanting musical.

[Disney Records/Universal 61391-7]

I just came back from visiting London and catching one of the most well-reviewed shows in the recent past, "Mary Poppins."

The CD contains the majority of the songs heard onstage and from them one can get a good glimpse of the show, as performed onstage. A somewhat different (and welcome) story than the classic film version, although there are a majority of songs from the film included they are in perhaps a different context (except for "Step In Time," natch) but they are successfully translated and entertaining.

This is one not to miss once it hits the Broadway stage with (hopefully, knock on wood) the original UK leads, Laura Michele Kelly and Gavin Lee who are both quite charismatic and make their own the characters originated by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the film, respectively.

Recommended.

I am a a huge broadway fan so when I heard the Mary Poppins was making it's way to the Great White Way I knew I had to hear it. When I did I was completly blown away! Not only are all of the old and beloved songs there and complete the are a host of all new ones that still hold up the magic of the show.

standouts include:
Cherry Tree Lane Part 1
The Perfect Nanny
Cherry Tree Lane Part 2
Practically Perfect
Jolly Holiday
Cherry Tree Lane (Reprise)/Being Mrs Banks
A Spoonful of Sugar
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Temper, Temper
Chim Chim Cher-Ee (Rooftop Duet)
Brimstone and Treacle
Let's Go Fly a Kite
Step in Time
Anything Can Happen

Although this show is produced by disney it isn't a disney musical. the story has been expanded to include some of the original story lines from the Mary Poppins books. the show is great and so is this recording. Buy it!

Putting a much-loved film such as Mary Poppins on stage was never going to be an easy task: re-writing much of the plot and adding new songs to the score sounds like a disaster in waiting.

However, the show and this cast recording dispel any such worries. From the overture onwards, the whole show is beautifully performed and orchestrated. Laura Michelle Kelly manages to convey both patience and authority, making the title role tougher and closer to the books, rather than the sugar-coated Disney film. However, she almost has her thunder stolen by an energetic Gavin Lee as Bert (with a rather more authentic accent than Dick van Dyke) who brightens up any song he's in - even the rather dull Jolly Holiday!
David Haig, Linzi Hatley and Rosemary Ashe (as Mr & Mrs Banks and Miss Andrew respectively) all provide excellent support, and the featured children thankfully manage to tread the line between sweet and sickly perfectly.

Stiles and Drewe have cleverly written extensions to many of the pre-existing songs that often improve on the originals (Step in Time and Supercali... especially), as well as a number of new songs which blend seamlessly into the score: from the pompous opening, 'Cherry Tree Lane', the buoyant 'Practically Perfect', and the perfect finale 'Anything Can Happen'.

Add to this the wonderful audio production and the comprehensive booklet packed with lyrics and photos, and you have a cast album that won't leave your CD player for weeks!

Listening to the cast album of "Mary Poppins" is an odd experience, in that you will constantly find yourself sifting through distant memories of P.L. Travers' books (it's nice to hear Mrs. Cory and her Irish brogue get some attention, as well as the refashioning of "Jolly Holiday" to include the story of Neleus the statue coming to life), and the more-vivid recollections of the incomparable Julie Andrews and the wonderful Sherman brothers score for the film. (George Stiles and Anthony Drewe provide new music and lyrics, and for the most part acquit themselves reasonably well.) The libretto for the cast album doesn't provide a show synopsis, though if you've read the Travers books (and if you haven't you should--immediately) you can pretty much piece together the plotline. (Disney fans will scream over Mary's Act I departure and Act II return by kite; Travers fans will be ecstatic.) For every plot point that's been trimmed (we're so sorry, Uncle Albert, but your ceiling tea party and song have been axed), others have been pulled from the books and refashioned (such as the fate of vinergary Miss Andrew and the birdcage, Mrs. Cory's ladders to the stars). Mrs. Banks' suffragette storyline and amusing song ("Sister Suffragette") from the movie have been trimmed to bring her back closer to the book--she's less modern and funny, but arguably more poignant; Mr. Banks' brisk song "The Life I Lead" has also been cut and replaced with the moody "Being Mr. Banks"--a song of great psychological complexity but average melody. All of the major Sherman brothers songs are still here, albeit with some new lyrics; "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is now a cheeky history lesson that results in even more byzantine wordplay, and some lyrics and melodies designed as a counterpoint to "Jolly Holiday" sounds just swell. Two other new songs, Mary's smug testament to self-satisfaction "Practically Perfect" and the lovely, yearning "Anything Can Happen," buttress the original score perfectly. "Chim Chim Cheree" has been diced and interspersed throughout the story, and the new lyrics hold the action together beautifully. "Temper Temper" is a big nightmarish set-piece set in the nursery that is again psychologically astute (and ties in with the "Bad Tuesday/Bad Wednesday" chapters in the books, lest Disney purists complain), but the melody seems lackluster and the tempo peculiar. "Brimestone and Treacle" is a good plot number, but the shrieking performance of Rosemary Ashe as Miss Andrew makes it a tough listen. Most of the performances (especially the ebulliant Gavin Lee and the lightly starched Laura Michelle Kelly) are nifty though, and the orchestrations are often glorious (the big chorus of "Jolly Holiday" could blow out your car stereo with joyous, tinkling bells; "Supercali" is a rousing barn-burner; and of course "Step in Time" is just marvellous, especially with the Celtic instrumentation). The reviews for this in London have been rhapsodic; it'll be interesting to see what the American production will be like, and if the score will be tampered with in the pond-crossing. For older kids who're just beginning to outgrow the movie but have read the books or are interested in theater, this is a great cast album to start them with, especially if you, like George Banks, are an overworked parent with a few issues of your own. "Mary Poppins" the theater score, like Mary Poppins the nanny, is a sweet spoonful of sugar for life's tough medicine.

I will admit that when I heard that Cameron Mackintosh produced a stage version of "Mary Poppins" I was skeptical at first, and upon hearing the album for the first time I was appalled at the album. I thought it was so awful! I thought this new production a NEW musical based on P.L. Travers timeless book and Walt Disney's masterpiece would bring back those happy memories of watching the movie as a child. However, upon several listenings I became entranced by the new songs, the orchestrations, the voices. Everything on the album is superb! Cameron Mackintosh is a genius for wanting to produce Mary Poppins for the stage. Of course, it is said that both the London and now Broadway leads will have to perform under the looming shadows of Julie and Dick, but if one listens carefully, one can hear echos of the original movie soundtrack. The key to this is enter with an open mind and not prejudge the musical because of the film.

The OLC cast is superb. Laura Michelle Kelly is a first rate Mary Poppins. David Haig a perfect George Banks and has more depth in character than David Tomlinson supplied. Gavin Lee is the perfect Bert, he sings and acts circles around Dick Van Dyke. The one cast member who is quite a unique choice would have to be Rosemary Ashe as "Miss Andrew" her two songs Brimstone And Treacle (Part 1 & Part 2) are delivered with amazing power and a huge presence. Rosemary is most prolific for her role as Carlotta in the OLC of "Phantom of the Opera." Ashe even delivers a "Carlotta-esque" performance.

So, before you go and make judgments based on the title and what you have heard, listen to the album and you'll be transported to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane, with songs like "Anything Can Happen" and the revitalized "Step in time." This new reading of Mary Poppins breaths new life into a literary and cinematic classic. I don't think Mary will be flying away from London or New York anytime soon.

I saw this show on London's West End in 2006, and it ranks among my favorite shows ever. Others have indicated issues with the quality of the CD (which seem to be isolated incidents at best), or complained about the changes made to the show when it was reworked for the stage, stating that "P.L. Travers would not approve," or that they couldn't understand why the Sherman Brothers, who wrote the original Disney film's music, were not brought back to add to this show. For those people, and to prevent newcomers from being misled, read on.

Actually, Ms. Travers *did* approve of the changes made. Most of the changes are directly taken from notes made with Ms. Travers when the she was approached for permission to create the stage musical. The alterations in Mary's personality are further taken directly from P.L. Travers' original stories, which characterize Mary as much less saccharine and more stern, all the while maintaining her as having that "must-be-cruel-to-be-kind" attitude towards teaching the wayward Banks family.

Ms. Travers is well-known for having strongly disliked the original Disney film, and this frustration prompted her to agree to allow a stage musical to be created only if the writers of the new production were British-born and if none of the people involved in the movie were allowed to have any hand whatsoever in the show. This specifically excluded the Sherman Brothers from writing any new music.

All-in-all, this soundtrack is an exquisite gem, and will forever stand out among my collection of Broadway shows recordings.