Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

Review: Mary Poppins at QPAC: Practically Perfect!

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Mary Poppins Review

I did not know that the author of the Mary Poppins book series was born only about 255 kms (161 miles) from where I sit today (Brisbane, Australia), in a sleepy old two called Maryborough (The name of the town probably has nothing to do with the name of the character that the author created).

Yes, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious indeed! P. L. Travers (or original name of Helen Lyndon Goff) was country author who created the magical and mysterious nanny and the show based on this famous character started its run at the Lyric Theatre at QPAC yesterday. It is a homecoming of sorts.

Most people will remember this nanny from the 1964 Hollywood adoption, made famous by Julie Andrews’s Oscar winning performance and the Sherman Brothers cheeky songs. In 2004, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney collaborated to bring the musical to stage at West End with follow up shows in Broadway and Australia. The Australian run started in Melbourne in 2010, and last night, it came to Brisbane.

And what a homecoming it was. A packed audience saw Verity Hunt-Ballard play Mary Poppins in a performance that was as much soulful as it was colorful. Matt Lee (ex judge from So you think you can Dance Australia) is the perfect foil as Bert. Simon Burke and Pippa Grandison play the Banks couple with intensity. But the audience favourite may yet have been Sally Ann-Upton playing the housekeeper, Mrs. Brill.

The show, is a must see, even if you are not a fan of live stage productions. Just the songs will make you want to hum along. The dialogues are crisp, the acting fluent and the clockwork precision of the theatrical production would have made P. L. Travers happy. Go see it!

All the details:

On now till Mar 17th 2012.

Friday* and Saturday 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees
Tickets $45 – $132.50

*Special holiday matinees will replace Friday evening shows on January 13, 20 and 27.

Wednesday and Thursday 7.30pm, Friday 1.30pm and Sunday 6.30pm
Tickets $45 – $127.50

Wednesday and Thursday 7.30pm (excludes 30 Dec to 4 Jan)
Family Pass
(4 x C Reserve tickets) $140

Wednesday 1.30pm
Tickets $40 – $90

The duration of the show is 2 hours and 45 minutes with a 20 minute interval.

Buy tickets at QPAC.

Hot Tip: If you have a child under the age of six, and if that child would not settle (as was our case), then make sure you ask the ushers to help you to go to the “Viewing Room”. This room is at the back of the theatre, has around 8 seats in a private sound proof box, and your child can make mayhem there without causing you to close your eyes and ears in embarrassment. You can still see the show, and hear it via a slightly muffled speaker, and you can go in and out of this room as you may please.

Also, if you have a child under 2, make sure to collect a free “Babes in Arms” ticket from the box office before going in.

CraftGossip attended the show courtesy of QPAC Publicity.

Read These Next

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Small Halloween Knitting Patterns

If you’re looking for cute and quick Halloween knitting patterns, you’ve come to the right place. This collection of small patterns is perfect for last minute decor or when you want to make a bunch of the same thing, or you’re just looking for some quick gratification. 

These little treat bags from Dolly Time are so cute, and the little appliques of a pumpkin, cat, witch and owl could also be used on other projects. They call for DK weight yarn to make 5 by 4.5 inch/13 by 11 cm bags; use thicker yarn to make bags that are a little bigger if you want. All the knitting is done flat. 

This Halloween collection from Milla Mia (available as a free download on Ravelry) includes a cute knit bat (shown here) and spider, as well as candle wrappers featuring bats, cats and spiders. They all use DK weight yarn. To make the bat you’ll need a tennis ball or a foam ball to make the body. 

Another creepy cute free download from Ravelry is this knit eyeball pattern from Mary Jane Mucklestone. These would be fun to make into backpack charms or earrings, or to hide around the house as a funny Halloween prank. I’m sure you can come up with lots of other ways to use them, too. The ones shown were worked with fingering weight yarn, but again you can change up the yarn to make them bigger. How about a blanket yarn eye shaped pillow?

The Halloween hangers from Lorraine Pistorio are just cute. These designs are worked in DK weight yarn and include a ghost, candy corn, pumpkin, Frankenstein’s monster and witch, all with cute little faces. They are worked in the round and considered intermediate patterns. You can find them on Ravelry.

Speaking of backpack charms, Gathered has a set of four little Halloween charms that are perfect for backpacks, keyrings, or to make into a garland. The free pattern includes a bat, cat, Frankenstein’s monster and witch’s hat. They use DK weight yarn. 

Ruby and the Foxes has a few Halloween themed bunting patterns that would also be cute to stitch on washcloths or other projects. The graveyard set is shown here, but there are also black cats and other images to choose from. The patterns use DK weight yarn and include tips on how to make the project into a bunting. 

If you want to knit actual washcloths for Halloween, I like this pumpkin shaped one that’s a free pattern from Colour it Green. The original uses DK yarn but worsted weight cotton is easier to find and will just make it a little bigger.