Ted, I disagree. Or, at least, I don't think you should have been the one to review this. This review tells us nothing about the production. Here's a question: to the audience members you talks about who "don't want to go to the theater for special effects...", what did you exactly think was going to happen when you bought tickets to Mary Poppins? That there was going to be a huge, underlying message about the currant economy or a deep and meaningful moral message? No. People bought Mary Poppins tickets to be entertained and that was what happened. If you went into the Benedam thinking your life was going to be changed and you were going to have to do a lot of soul searching on the way home, maybe you should have seen another show.
So, readers of the Pittsburgh City Paper, here is a REAL review of the production. Hopefully this helps with whether or not you want to catch this production before it leaves town.
Remember a time where everything had a magical quality to it that wasn't marred by nagging questions and thought provoking answers? When the most important question when you started your day was which of the 3 school lunches you were going to pick today? The magic of childhood was brought alive with Disney's production of Mary Poppins at the Benedum Center during the January 5th production I saw courtesy of their Broadway Across America program.
Though the show's opening night was wrought with technical glitches and a changing of the Mary's half way through the first act (Caroline Sheen was replaced by her understudy, Elizabeth Broadhurst, after "Feed the Birds" unexpectantly, causing a 20 minute delay in the fun), Mary Poppins was a heartwarming version of the classic children's movie for all ages. Disney productions met and exceeded expectations with elaborate sets and set changes that in no way stopped the flow of the action. Burt (Nicolas Dromard) was utilized creatively to bring about most of the scene changes so the audience was never left in the dark. From the story book styled Banks house to the omnipresent halls of the Bank, scenic and costume designer Bob Crowley helped to create a world on the stage that threw audiences back into the magic of their childhood.
As with most Disney shows, the special effects dazzled audiences and even had some of the most veteran theater goers scratching their heads, wondering "How did they do that?" One of the highlights was, of course, when Burt tapped danced around the Benedum's procenium during "Step in Time," one of the more dazzling numbers of the production.
Technical issues aside, the cast was very versatile in dealing with the Mary debacle. Broadhurst seemed nervous and hesitant at first after being thrown into the first act, but the Banks children, Taylor Ackerman and Camille Mancuso, helped Broadhurst to find her light and led her around during the dance numbers until she too felt at ease. The children were remarkable actors and workers, not allowing their long stage time (they were on stage at least 90% of the time) deter or tire them. They were what made the show.
Those going to see the Broadway tour of Mary Poppins should not expect a recreation of the movie. With ties in from both Julie Andrew's fun and quirky nanny to the original story book, Disney's stage production recreated the whole story and made it unique. Once lovers of the movie get over this fact, Mary Poppins is a great, fun, and exciting trip to a time more simple for children and adults of all ages.
I was appalled to hear about how your school has canceled prom just because you did not want the "distraction" of having a student bring another member of the same sex as her date. Letting personal convictions and politics dictate the democratic process of the education system goes against everything that the system was designed for. Schools of today are there to mold the young minds of our country and develop them into upstanding citizens capable of forming their own opinions and views on a subject. Punishing the entire school solely because of one student who has a different stance on her sexuality "teaches" the rest of the students that homosexuality is something to be punished. Your view points on whether or not homosexuality is a punishable sin are irrelevant here and is not the case I am trying to convey. What IS important is whether or not Constance's fellow students are free to make up their own opinions on homosexuality rather than learning from you, their teachers and role models, that "bad things" happen when people enjoy the companion of someone of the same sex. That is what is appalling in this situation. Like I said, I don't care whether or not you agree with homosexuality but do NOT impose your viewpoints on the rest of the students. They should be free to determine their own stance on their own without the social stigma you are creating with the canceling of prom. Hopefully, you change your stance on this, though I do believe the damage is done. You are dispicable and I can only pray you either stop bringing your biggotry into the classroom or retire before you create a whole generation of racist teenagers.
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So, readers of the Pittsburgh City Paper, here is a REAL review of the production. Hopefully this helps with whether or not you want to catch this production before it leaves town.
Remember a time where everything had a magical quality to it that wasn't marred by nagging questions and thought provoking answers? When the most important question when you started your day was which of the 3 school lunches you were going to pick today? The magic of childhood was brought alive with Disney's production of Mary Poppins at the Benedum Center during the January 5th production I saw courtesy of their Broadway Across America program.
Though the show's opening night was wrought with technical glitches and a changing of the Mary's half way through the first act (Caroline Sheen was replaced by her understudy, Elizabeth Broadhurst, after "Feed the Birds" unexpectantly, causing a 20 minute delay in the fun), Mary Poppins was a heartwarming version of the classic children's movie for all ages. Disney productions met and exceeded expectations with elaborate sets and set changes that in no way stopped the flow of the action. Burt (Nicolas Dromard) was utilized creatively to bring about most of the scene changes so the audience was never left in the dark. From the story book styled Banks house to the omnipresent halls of the Bank, scenic and costume designer Bob Crowley helped to create a world on the stage that threw audiences back into the magic of their childhood.
As with most Disney shows, the special effects dazzled audiences and even had some of the most veteran theater goers scratching their heads, wondering "How did they do that?" One of the highlights was, of course, when Burt tapped danced around the Benedum's procenium during "Step in Time," one of the more dazzling numbers of the production.
Technical issues aside, the cast was very versatile in dealing with the Mary debacle. Broadhurst seemed nervous and hesitant at first after being thrown into the first act, but the Banks children, Taylor Ackerman and Camille Mancuso, helped Broadhurst to find her light and led her around during the dance numbers until she too felt at ease. The children were remarkable actors and workers, not allowing their long stage time (they were on stage at least 90% of the time) deter or tire them. They were what made the show.
Those going to see the Broadway tour of Mary Poppins should not expect a recreation of the movie. With ties in from both Julie Andrew's fun and quirky nanny to the original story book, Disney's stage production recreated the whole story and made it unique. Once lovers of the movie get over this fact, Mary Poppins is a great, fun, and exciting trip to a time more simple for children and adults of all ages.
I was appalled to hear about how your school has canceled prom just because you did not want the "distraction" of having a student bring another member of the same sex as her date. Letting personal convictions and politics dictate the democratic process of the education system goes against everything that the system was designed for. Schools of today are there to mold the young minds of our country and develop them into upstanding citizens capable of forming their own opinions and views on a subject. Punishing the entire school solely because of one student who has a different stance on her sexuality "teaches" the rest of the students that homosexuality is something to be punished. Your view points on whether or not homosexuality is a punishable sin are irrelevant here and is not the case I am trying to convey. What IS important is whether or not Constance's fellow students are free to make up their own opinions on homosexuality rather than learning from you, their teachers and role models, that "bad things" happen when people enjoy the companion of someone of the same sex. That is what is appalling in this situation. Like I said, I don't care whether or not you agree with homosexuality but do NOT impose your viewpoints on the rest of the students. They should be free to determine their own stance on their own without the social stigma you are creating with the canceling of prom. Hopefully, you change your stance on this, though I do believe the damage is done. You are dispicable and I can only pray you either stop bringing your biggotry into the classroom or retire before you create a whole generation of racist teenagers.