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"The statues are coming alive!" my six-year-old son shouts in one of the early scenes of Mary Poppins. "Are they really real?"
For children in the audience, the magic of theatre is truly alive in this sparkling production, in which it seems anything can indeed happen. The parents too, will be struck by the acting finesse and musical punch this Disney show is packing.
The first delight is Bor Browley's set design. The Banks family home opens upl like a dollhouse. The London skyline, park and steps of St Paul's Cathedral all look like charming story book drawings.
Verity Hunt-Ballard's Mary Poppins arrives on stage, seemingly out of thin air. Her performance is a commanding blend of ramrod strictness with the Banks children and knowing looks to the audience.
Marna Prior is deliciously warm as the rattled Mrs Banks, Philip Quast is terrific as the stressed-out Mr Banks and child actors Ashleigh Ross and Cameron Holmes are excellent as their children, Jane and Michael.
At almost three hours, it may be too long for the very young, but anyone over the age of six will have a memory to treasure.
© The Sun Herald
