Saw the show in London last night and knew that it was going to be darker than the movie. However, even I was kinda scared by the number and I'm 21 (granted, my irrational fear of clowns might have something to do with it too). Definitely not the family musical I expected, but I still absolutely loved the show.
THat certainly does sem an odd choice for such a famously light-hearted commodity like Mary Poppins. I'm not sure why they are so adament about keeping it in when it's making pretty mcuh everyone uncomfortable.
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It's not that scary. This is just another example of american children being coddled to the point of craziness. If your kid is 8 and is scared by the scene they need to toughen up. I would take them to see it again =)
I like your thinking, I am sure Rosie will mention it in someway on the view ( I have no need to watch the view)....she is the one who single handily caused every 2-3 yr to see the LionKing ..when Lion King first cam out the theater said no one under 4 admitted ...then Rosie took her 3yr old? or younger to the show and raved about it.
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Ciaron, I have to disagree with you wholeheartedly.
Saw the show in London and saw children all over the theater (and heard them) crying. What do you make of these little British boys and girls being scared?
The number is disturbing. And these ARE kids we're talking about.
To have toy soldiers pointing guns at their child owners is just out of this world in a family show. That one image has stuck with me and though I won't see it on B'Way till Dec. 12th, I'd assume that piece of staging has remained.
I'm glad they're trying to stick to the books, but maybe, even if the actors are no uncomfortable, the song should go.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
wow, did anyone read the little tidbit at the end of the article saying brian d'arcy james has been cast as doctor frankenstein?? is that old news that i'm a little late on? i remember reading the casting posting about who people thought should play the dr...
Again these kids are being coddled. If I coudl handle "Fantasia", "Snow White" and "Watership Down" which all have scary moments in them these kids can handle that number. I saw the show in London and my 6 year old neice was with me. She was fine. I didn't hear any kids crying. The books were dark and Mackintosh made a promise to keep it closer to the books. It is what it is. I hope it doesnt get cut. Its a great number.
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Ciaron, "Watership Down" scared the heck out of me. Those mean bunnies with red eyes... :shudder: But I was about 3 at the time.
clarkstallings, I agree! I cannot count the number of kids I've heard crying in the "dark rides" at Disney World. I just want to say to the parents, if your child is scared of the dark don't take them on dark rides and have their crying ruin it for the rest of us.
As do I! I'm sick of everything being toned down to please certain groups. The "Poppins" books were dark and the show should be the same. Keep the little kids home if you don't want them to see it.
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"Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu"
from "Can't Stop The Music"
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"When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth"
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"Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.
I want to see this song too, because I would love to see the darker side of Disney. I agree that many children are being coddled and this would be a good wakeup call. Not everything in their life is going to be pleasent though.
It was 6 hours, I don't even like to have sex and eat bacon for 6 hours. Freddy Benson- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
I found most of MP quite forgetable (oddly I remember the staging more than the dance sequences which is different for me), but I think Temper Temper was less scary than Miss Andrews, Mr Banks' former nanny. Admittedly I'm 22, but the 11 year old I was with was the same way.
We have this debate all the time in the UK with films. With Have a PG-12 here, which means you can take kids under 12 as long as parents are with them and are aware of the content. This means you get parents taking 6 year old to see PG-12 films, things like pirates of the carribbean and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are recent examples, that are blatantly not suitable for them.
Age restrictions are there for a reason, and unless you've seen something and know better and think your underage child can handle it, then don't take them.
I learnt this when I went to see the Da Vinci code with my 13 and 15 year old cousins (certificate 12 @ the cinema) and they were scared out of their tiny minds.
Keep the number in, dammit. The show would be completely gutless without it...and it's just not THAT scary. Personally, I found the whole scene to be one of more interesting new, non-movie scenes in the whole show (based on seeing it in London in May).
There's nothing remotely scary in Mary Poppins. It's terminally bland. The kids in London were crying because they were bored and wanted to go home. I sympathized.
Scary???..I could not belive what I was reading!!!! The show is AMAZING the way it is, I don't know what the Broadway cast is like but to me the show is good as it is...the only thing I would like them to touch up is "Jolly holiday"..I am sure Ashley Brown is perfect tho!!!
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Sounds like a mini version of PUPPET MASTER. I hate dolls. I hate older Victorian dolls that stare at you. I would probably cover my eyes during that scene, when I go.