ABC NEWS- Mary Poppins A Lier??

[CThaddeus]

It's at the point that the song doesn't even SOUND like itself anymore in the stage version. Some good stuff in the play and some NOT so good stuff

Glad to know someone else agrees with me. I found it irritating that they took a classic Disney musical and rewrote many of the songs just "because." I didn't expect the show to be EXACTLY like the movie, but I did expect they wouldn't mess with songs that were already "practically perfect." If they wanted to add a new verse or two that's one thing, but to completely retool a song like "Supercali..." indicated to me they didn't respect their source material. They didn't do it with any of their shows...why start with this one? This is the first Disney Broadway show that left a bad taste in my mouth. Fortunately, a show down the street - "Xanadu" - took that bad taste away.

 

[sleepybear]

It's at the point that the song doesn't even SOUND like itself anymore in the stage version. Some good stuff in the play and some NOT so good stuff

Count me in as another person who was disappointed by it. To me, the movie is like a perfect two-act Broadway musical to begin with. So imagine my surprise when I saw how different the play was. I know they didn't want to make a carbon copy of the movie, but the changes weren't very good and, even worse, not necessary. But many other people loved it ... so, good for them.

 

[GrumpysGal]

Count me in as another person who was disappointed by it. To me, the movie is like a perfect two-act Broadway musical to begin with. So imagine my surprise when I saw how different the play was. I know they didn't want to make a carbon copy of the movie, but the changes weren't very good and, even worse, not necessary. But many other people loved it ... so, good for them.

I definitely understand your point. At first, I was a little skeptical about it. Mary Poppins the movie is perfect to begin with. But I think the changes were fresh. I don't know how much I would have enjoyed a carbon copy. I've seen the movie a gazillion times anyways! LOL So, that is the way I looked at it. And I think that's why I enjoyed it. (I tend to always look towards the positive of things, I guess.) But I understand many people think it shouldn't have been touched. I think Ashley Brown has played the role of MP wonderfully, too. Talk about big shoes to fill!

 

[WaltsApprentice]

Hmmm interesting comments... I have yet to see the broadway show...and I'm hoping to see it this weekend...if our plans go through to NYC...but thats a different story. But If you think of it this way...I kinda like to see them on broadway because ...we have seen the orginals but its nice to see a twist to them...thats my feeling with Finding Nemo the Musical, I enjoy it a bit better because its a different feel then from the orginal.

But yet I have been one that loves twists to the orginal if done correctly. For example I love, dare I say it, Lion King 1 1/2 and Cinderella 3 A Twist in Time. There different and actually have a fun plot that almost makes fun of the orginal...sorry I digress

But thats my two cents...I'll let you know more what I think after this weekend if I get to go see it...but I think we maybe seeing Young Frankinstein!!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I definitely understand your point. At first, I was a little skeptical about it. Mary Poppins the movie is perfect to begin with. But I think the changes were fresh. I don't know how much I would have enjoyed a carbon copy. I've seen the movie a gazillion times anyways! LOL So, that is the way I looked at it. And I think that's why I enjoyed it. (I tend to always look towards the positive of things, I guess.) But I understand many people think it shouldn't have been touched. I think Ashley Brown has played the role of MP wonderfully, too. Talk about big shoes to fill!

I agree with the changes to Supercali..., but as for the rest of the "changes" to the play....if you read the playbill, the writer of the the Mary Poppins stories (yes eight! stories...I didn't know) P.L. Travers was quite the strong personality. It took Disney a long time to gain the rights to make the movie, and even longer to allow a stage version. Ms. Travers, not unlike J.K. Rowling has maintained control over her characters and had specific requirements to be met. Included in those requirements were changes to some of the events from the movie, and inclusion of certain other scenes (like the "revenge" of the giant toys).

So the "changes" in the stage version were primarily to meet requirements made by Ms. Travers so that there could be a Broadway production.

 

[GrumpysGal]

So the "changes" in the stage version were primarily to meet requirements made by Ms. Travers so that there could be a Broadway production.

Yep. You are correct. I did read that somewhere. It slipped my mind. thanks for pointing this out.