Debra Aspinall reviews the enchanting musical Mary Poppins

THERE's more than a touch of magic about the West End production of Mary Poppins, and it isn't all due to the mysterious character who appears from the skies to become nanny to Michael and Jane Banks.

The Cameron Mackintosh and Disney version of the PL Travers stories has been enchanting audiences at the Prince Edward Theatre for three and a half years, but will close in London on January 12. See it while you can!

The production, which has been a huge box office and critical success, is one of the most lavish musicals in recent years and has already grossed more than £60 million. at the box office. An international tour of the show is expected to start in the UK next year.

The delightfully pretty and massively talented Scarlett Strallen is currently starring as the magical nanny with Gavin Creel as Bert.

Ms Strallen is totally charming (or to quote one of the new songs added to the show by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, "Practically Perfect").

She manages to keep the stiff-as-a-board Victorian nanny profile while at the same time dancing up a storm and singing every bit as sweetly as Julie Andrews did in the 1960s film. Even when flying high above our heads Ms Strallen's feet are perfectly positioned at ten to two and her spine is ramrod straight, yet she always has an air of mischief about her while retaining her butter-wouldn't-melt expression. She is eminently watchable and soon had the audience under her spell.

I actually preferred this stage version of the story to the original film.

The children (the roles are shared between six girls and six boys) are amazing. They are on stage for almost the entire show and never put a step wrong. Bert is suitably chirpy and likeable (although Gavin Creel's singing and dancing far out-shone his acting) and the musical tells a simple story with such colour and vibrancy it must surely be one of the most feel-good shows around.

The set is spectacular. Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane is recreated in all its Victorian splendour (with the set designers literally raising the roof for certain scenes). The action moves seamlessly between the home (inside and on the roof), the bank (where Mr Banks works) and the park where some characters not seen in the film (and obviously necessary to replace the cartoon characters in the movie) are found. The highlights for me were Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - a rousing number with great choreography of hand movements - and the chimney sweeps' Step in Time which saw Bert dancing up the side of the stage and on the ceiling. The only bit I would cut was the "Temper Temper" nursery number where the children's toys come to life to menacingly warn the children of the consequences of having a bad temper. But then I've always been a bit freaked-out by dolls, so that was a personal issue. And no, I don't want to talk about it.

Mr Banks' nanny-of-old, Miss Andrews, deserves a mention. Louise Gold was a bit of a scene stealer in her minor role as the very scary nanny whose method for curbing children's naughty behaviour was using liberal doses of brimstone and treacle.

Mary swiftly dealt with her.

This is a show for all the family, with dark parts, a poignant side, a moral, great song and dance numbers and a flying nanny. What more could you want?

Tickets are available from the Prince Edward Theatre Box Office on 0870 850 9191 or online at www.marypoppins.co.uk. Mary Poppins is now open for bookings until 12 January 2008.

3:05pm Wednesday 1st August 2007

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