Life Lessons Learned from Mary Poppins

I had the thrill of attending a recent performance of Disney’s Mary Poppins presented by Broadway Across America.  On a tour of  North America, this production brings to life the proper nanny come to rescue the family on the edge,  based on the books by P.L. Travers and originally introduced to Disney fans on film in 1964.

Since Mary Poppins was the first movie I  saw as a child in the movie theater, it has always been my favorite Disney story and holds a special place in my heart.  This time, as I sat in the theater, with my daughter by my side, I was once again swept up in the magic.

It appears that I am not the only one that has been swept away, as Mary Poppins, originally hit London’s West End on the stage of Prince Edward Theatre in 2004.  Following several years of success in London, a Broadway production was introduced at the New Amsterdam Theatre, in New York City were it remains one of the most popular shows.

Now Broadway Across America brings the North American Tour of Mary Poppins to thrilled theater audiences dotting the U.S. and Canada.

Full of the tunes from the original movie score, with a few added for this production, I was quickly swept up in the action on stage.  The costuming was remarkable with bleak grey tones appearing until after Mary Poppins arrives when turn unique and vibrant. The dance numbers are exciting and as broad as the film and are in a word, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Although I enjoyed the performance, as I sat in the audience many of the themes being played out began to haunt me and hit a little too close to home.  How often do we squelch our children’s   quest for fun, as we have “more important things to do”?  How often do we allow the day’s events to turn us grumpy, withdrawn and oblivious to the laughter and delights of childhood?

Wise beyond her magic, Mary Poppins shows us the things in life that are really important:

• Take time for family and friends
• Treat others as you want to be treated
• A little fun makes any task bearable
• Take care of the less fortunate
• Find joy in the little things

Exiting the theater, humming the tunes and discussing our favorite scenes, I am pumped up with new enthusiasm and parenting tools, as if I had attended a motivational conference.   I promise to take time to “Feed the Birds”, complete my tasks with “A Spoonful of Sugar”,  grab my family and “Go Fly a Kite”.  Thank you, Mary Poppins!

Photos provided by Broadway Across America

Broadway Across America provided the author complimentary tickets to the performance for the purpose of a review, the opinions expressed here, however are strictly those of the author.