Cameron Mackintosh’s Australian production of "Mary Poppins" had its much-anticipated opening night at the Crown Theatre on September 13th, and left audiences spellbound. Heavily adapted from the classic 1964 Disney film (itself based on a series of books by PL Travers), the musical seamlessly transitions to the stage, expertly replicating the magic that fans of the movie will remember fondly, while making tweaks that add new dimensions to a familiar story. 

A key highlight of the musical is its astoundingly crafted production design. Part of what made the original film so memorable was its groundbreaking, Oscar-wining visual effects, and it’s a testament to the passion of the stage musical’s creative team that they were able to translate the film’s enchantments with some ingenuity of their own. Echoing the joy and novelty of opening a pop-up book, the fluid, transformative sets take on a life of their own. Each scene unfolds like you’re leaping through pages of a picture book, and clever implementations of wiring work and larger-than-life props punctuate the musical’s narrative, resulting in a technicolour spectacle that immerses you completely with its tactile magical realism. 

Underneath the technical dazzle is a versatile all-Australian ensemble cast who give it their all. Stefanie Jones is pitch-perfect as the iconic Mary Poppins, an enigmatic super-nanny sent from the heavens to care for two precocious children, who have been consecutively burning through a series of frustrated governesses. Jones’ exceptional portrayal strikes a delicate balance between the firmness and allure of the character, while the young actors are delightful as siblings Jane and Michael Banks, exuding a cheeky vibrancy with a strong grasp of their craft that allows them to keep up with their seasoned co-stars. And yet, it’s Jack Chambers who steals the show here as Bert, the charming jack-of-all-trades with a special connection to Mary who guides the Banks family throughout the story. Anchored by his training as a dancer, Chambers delivers a dynamically kinetic performance that radiates with charisma.

A key feature of Mary Poppins’ cultural impact is its music, and this production does not disappoint with its rendition of iconic Poppins bangers, like “Feed The Birds”, “Step In Time”, and “Anything Can Happen”. When you’re experiencing a re-telling of a story you’ve seen before, it’s natural to feel some trepidation about whether it would still affect you the same way. Mary Poppins Australia seems to be keenly aware of this, and has made some interesting changes, to varying degrees of success. But all my reservations melted away when “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” hits its crescendo, and I start to feel my heart swell.

Showcasing the enduring charm of its original material and the talent of Australian theatre, "Mary Poppins Australia" welcomes both fresh faces and long-time fans to revel in the pure delight of unleashing their imagination and rediscovering cherished connections in a fun, new way.

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of MARY POPPINS plays at Crown Theatre, Perth from 9 September 2023 for a strictly limited 6-week only season, ending on 22 October. Get your tickets here!