Supercalifragistic

Mary Poppins the musical premiered at the Civic in Auckland last night – fittingly on a warm but windy Auckland night – with a gala opening that saw guests walk the red carpet…

Mary Poppins the musical premiered at the Civic in Auckland last night – fittingly on a warm but windy Auckland night – with a gala opening that saw guests walk the red carpet down Queen St, past inquisitive triathletes and ice cream eaters ( the marvellous Giapo is just next door). Inside was a crush – the historic Civic packed to capacity with not a seat empty in the house meant that the foyer was packed with a who’s who of Auckland, eagerly awaiting the magic of Mary Poppins.

The show is spectacular – I’ll give away no spoilers – but even for me, a seasoned theatre- and concert-goer – there were absolutely take-your-breath-away moments when the magnificence of the set, stagecraft and lighting worked together to wow the audience. With a number of new songs, the story of this mysterious, magical nanny became a paean to London, to family, and to childhood. The finale song – If You Let It, with its refrain of “anything can happen/if you let it” gloriously captured the spirit of the original songs while simultaneously celebrating the peculiarly English imagined childhood – that of Alice in Wonderland or Sophie and her friend the BFG.

The costumes were outstanding – Jane and Michael reminiscent of Wendy and the lost boys in their Edwardian sailor suits and dressing gowns – while the imagination sequences were a riot of colour. Mary herself became more and more colourful, her coat changing from navy to red to purple. This echoed her transformative powers over the Banks family – a change Jane indicates when she says emphatically: “other families will need her now, won’t they Daddy?”

A wonderful night – Auckland at its best despite the wind – and musical theatre at its transfixing pinnacle. Mary Poppins plays at the Civic until Sunday the 16th of December, with tickets ranging in price from $55-$145, and there are matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays which would be highly suitable for children. At nearly three hours (including interval), children over 6 are likely to get the most from it. What a wonderful start to the holiday season.