Practically Perfect in Every Way

Ahead of the Mary Poppins show at Dubai Opera, here’s a look at the 83-year journey that has taken the world’s most magical nanny from a creepy book character to a supercalifragilistic onstage icon.

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One of the most popular Disney classics is capturing imaginations in a whole new way: as a practically perfect musical. Based on the books by PL Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney And Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences with over 2,500 performances and received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical – and now it lands in Dubai.

For many, it’s hard not to imagine Mary Poppins as anyone other than Julie Andrews. The 1961 Disney movie of the same name became a cult classic, introducing Mary as the magical nanny who blows in with the east wind to take charge of the two naughty Banks children. Through many a sequence of song and dance, Mary’s own strict-but-kind (and mysteriously magical) style, a ditty or two from chimney sweep Bert, and the inevitable epiphany from George Banks on how to connect with his children, Mary leaves the household behind as a happy, functional family unit. Andrews, who won a Best Actress Oscar for the role, endeared Mary to audiences worldwide – making it even harder to believe that the charming nanny is actually supposed to be a vain, ugly, Chim Chim Cheer-less character.