|
Relative unknown Verity Hunt-Ballard has delivered an impressive preview of her role of Mary Poppins, with a stellar cast behind her
The story of Mary Poppins must tap into a contemporary need to be nannied. Well, apart from all those singalong tunes remembered from childhood, how else to explain the ongoing media attention to the progress of Mary Poppins the Musical, which has its Australian premiere at Her Majesty's Theatre in July?
Yesterday a surprisingly large media throng (including The Age) gathered at a draughty South Melbourne rehearsal hall to watch the cast belt out one of the musical's show-stopping numbers, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, made famous by the 1964 Disney film starring Julie Andrews.
Throwing off their scarves and shawls (sadly no leg-warmers or headbands were in evidence), a powerhouse of household-name talent showed they may have only been rehearsing for one week but are on track to deliver the feel-good qualities of the story about an Edwardian nanny who uses her magical powers to straighten out a dysfunctional London family.
The show's principal cast, including Marina Prior, Debra Byrne, Philip Quast, Judi Connelli, and dancer and So You Think You Can Dance judge Matt Lee, were led by 28-year-old Verity Hunt-Ballard as the stern but attractive Mary Poppins.
