Show of Hands: Step in Time!

The video of "Step in Time" from the Broadway version of MARY POPPINS is up and captioned! (Do watch the amazing and highly visual choreography and the stunner that Gavin Lee as Bert performs in front of your very eyes!) Link to the video at the end of this post.

"Step in Time" joins the video of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" to the captioned MARY POPPINS playlist on our youtube channel as well.

As for the show itself... the production is now playing at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis, MN until September 20th. The ASL-interpreted performance is held on Sunday the 13th with seats house left (or stage right from the actor's perspective).

I had the opportunity to preview this show twice - and will see it again with the interpreters whom I've been team-mentoring (The songs that received heavy attention: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", "Step in Time" and "Anything Can Happen if You Let it". (The latter was written for the stage show).

My response?

WOW!

Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee reprised their Broadway roles as Mary and Bert, respectively. While they are no Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke, they both give something special to turn the roles into their own creation while giving a new flavor to the characters we hold dear from the books by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Disney flick.

Of all the song numbers, my favorite was "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (as the choreography is based loosely on British Sign Language, the eagle-eyed can pick out the influences and remnants such as the letter "F" during the spelling-out with their bodies. Highly visual - one *almost* doesn't need an interpreter for this song! *Almost*.

Extra perk - the show's souvenir program does hold pictures of each of the sign-letter in the atrocious word as done by Gavin the way one would print the manual alphabet in ASL. (This may be the main reason for my purchase...)

Another favorite (yet incredibly visual scene) was "Step in Time" - no words are needed to describe the choreography that Bert, Mary and the chimney sweepers perform. It almost looks better on stage than on screen - but then, there is one part that is almost magical if one looks beyond the technology involved in making it possible.

Not to mention, it never fails. I cry at hearing/seeing "Feed the Birds" ("tuppence a bag"). This song is one of the few lullaby-style music that does put me to sleep - or at least comfort me. (At least, the Julie Andrews version does - this one simply made me smile with a sentimental connection and an uurge to find the Bird Woman and buy bag to 'feed the birds' myself. Anyone living near St Paul Cathedral? Please go and buy a bag for me! Feed the birds! Tuppence a bag!

I found it helpful to read the script beforehands as they borrowed 50% from the film while adding the rest from the books (statues in the park during "Jolly Holiday" in lieu of the dancing penguins, for instance.) Some songs are the same, others have been removed or replaced by new songs "Being Mrs Banks", "Precision and Order", "Brimstone and Treacle" to name a few - the latter being sung by the evil nanny Miss Andrews who is aboslutely delightful and thrilling to watch her antics - and the facial expressions!

(Do watch out for MARY POPPINS - it is currently on tour. She may be flying in soon near you!)

Part II coming up soon with the 'terps review! (Ie how did they sign "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"?)

And now, as promised - the link to DisneyOnBroadway's "Step in Time". (Remember to toggle the CC button)