Mary Poppins at Alhambra Theatre Bradford Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Sarah W

When the east wind blows into Cherry Tree Lane, it brings a mysterious figure clutching an umbrella and a carpet bag you know what this means ….. Mary Poppins has hit the Alhambra, Bradford and the show is running for 6 whole weeks.

Last night my partner, myself and my older two children (13) were very lucky to catch her flying in and this was a wonderful half term holiday treat indeed.

Mary Poppins the Musical is based on the original story by P. L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Cameron Mackintosh and Disney bring you few twists on what we are familiar but it all works out extremely well and is spectacular to see.

This run has the Acclaimed Australian stars cast as Mary Poppins (Stefanie Jones) and Burt (Jack Chambers) reprising their roles alongside an equally brilliant and hard working cast or actors and actresses.

The original well loved classic songs we grew up loving and singing along to have been given the Broadway live stage show treatment and some new songs to fit in nicely by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe Directed by Richard Eyre | Co-directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne.

This show is well and truly next level. The set and special effect are jaw-dropping and the Matthew Bourne touch to the dazzling choreography is evident, I absolutely loved the dancing statues in the park they really brought a smile to my face.

As the story goes it tells tale of the Banks family, the mother the father and their two well-meaning but cheeky daughter and son who are in desperately in need of a new nanny and some love and affection from their father.

Mary Poppins arrives like a dream after magically receiving the children’s advertisement, she basically came floating in from above with her signature umbrella and magical bottomless bag, ready to teach some well needed lessons—not only to the children, but to the adults as well.

With her practically perfect manners and mysterious magic, she transforms their lives, taking them on adventures beyond their wildest imaginations. This message as a parent myself hits you completely different to when you were young.

This production is its phenomenal and the cast are as Mary herself would say Practically Perfect in every ways Stefanie Jones shines as Mary Poppins, embodying her elegance, wit, originally I thought she lacked warmth however as the production carried on it became evident she owned the part and played it with flawless precision. Her vocals are top notch which is paramount when you’re playing a character brought to life on screen by the legendary Julie Andrews.

Jack Chambers as Bert is equally brilliant bringing the Cockney charm to the stage his charismatic energy charm and top notch tap dancing make him one of the show’s biggest highlights.

The pair of them managed to make every gesture, every twinkle in their eyes, feels like pure magic.

The Banks family and ensemble cast were also fantastic, bringing humour, heart, and emotion to the story the children were outstanding and held their own on stage playing their parts perfectly. During the run the role of Jane and Michael Banks is shared between five different children for each character.

The music is, of course, spectacular. Classics like A spoon full of sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Step in Time, Jolly Holiday, Let’s go Fly a Kite and Feed the Birds had the audience especially my kids singing along or least mouthing the words). The new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe lyrically blended seamlessly with the original Sherman Brothers compositions. this enhanced the story by adding a fresh yet familiar touch.

As for the visuals well the set design is ingenious, creating a magical, whimsical world that constantly surprises. At one point, the Banks house folds in on itself, transforming into something else right before our eyes! In the kitchen Mary Poppins has dancing brushes and fixes broken shelves. The lighting and sound, with glowing backdrops, seamless transitions, and stunning effects the illusions the flying it’s all very magical indeed.

The choreography is brilliant simply beautiful every movement was sharp, precise, and utterly mesmerising to see. It flows smoothly from scene to scene inviting us to meet new and familiar cast members alike, even the set transitions felt like part of the performance, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the entire experience.

Overall, this Mary Poppins production is truly spectacular. It’s visually breath taking, packed with emotion yeah it brought tear to mine and my partners eyes at least.

This is what the magic of theatre is all about and in its purest form.

The show is an unforgettable masterpiece that transports audiences straight into a world of magic and nostalgia.

If you ever get the chance to see this show, DO NOT MISS IT—it’s practically perfect in every way.

Rating: 5/5 (Absolutely Magical!)

For more information or to book tickets, visit www.bradford-theatres.co.uk