Bedknobs and Broomsticks - U.K. & Ireland Tour

Of course it can

Miss Prices’ first big number is priceless!

So say it like that in the first place rather than trying to sound deliberately unpleasant and superior. You have a wealth of impressive knowledge and experience which you devalue with the way you share it.

Hard disagree here - that original Poppins house was EPIC! but I get the sentiment

I’ll say it however I want Thankyou very much.

Warning - may contain some spoilers!

The audience reception on Saturday night was wonderful. Jamie Harrison (director) & Candice Edmunds (producer) were onstage before curtain up to give a speech to the audience about the journey so far, and to ask for their support for the cast who'd been working so hard. Huge round of applause and cheers, which continued through the evening after each number, and a massive ovation at the end.

It's a very imaginative staging with a relatively simple set with little to no automation - the cast bring on the various pieces of scenery and interact with them too. There was a lovely moment when Miss Price was taking the children up the stairs which brought an appreciative laugh from the audience.

Portobello Road was a nicely-staged ensemble number, and thankfully MUCH shorter than in the film!

The highlight for me was the act 2 opening under the sea for Bobbing Along and the dance competition. The costumes are beautiful, and the fish puppets work really well, especially the main one.

There's some fantastic puppetry on the island too with the bear, the bird and the king (especially the king), which is done Timon/Pumbaa/Zazu-style.

There is magic galore in all shapes, sizes and methods of delivery. Some beautiful use of "Filigree apogee pedigree perigee", and "Substitutiary locomotion" is fab, both on Browne's shoes and the contents of the museum.

As shady23 said, the cast is perfect, and I was amazed at the curtain call that it was such a small cast, it certainly seemed much bigger through the show. The orchestra sounds great too, and it's lovely to see a harp in a touring production! The new songs were lovely, and fit in nicely with the existing songs from the film.

Oh and the flying? Yes, it happens, and looks bloody marvellous. Seeing Miss Price hovering over the battle on her broomstick was a real goosebumps moment, and there is a very clever bit as the bed takes flight from London where it goes through an archway which then moves 360 degrees around the bed to fox the 'it's on wires' theorists ;-)

It's a lovely show and a great adaptation, and will hopefully run for a long time!

The Disney website description does say UK Tour & London run - so hopefully this means a West End transfer at some point?

Definitely a plan for this to have a London run in Autumn 2022

Is it weird that i've never seen the original film? It's not on TV half a much as Mary Poppins seems to be.

It's such a brilliant film. I think bobbing along was actually left over from Mary Poppins and ended up in Bedknobs.
Angela gives one of her most charming performances and it's really lovely. Think I might even watch it tonight!

I adored the film but I must say I've not seen it in many many years. I always thought though it would make a great stage musical and so I'm vert excited it's come to fruition. I will refrain from watching the film again so I'm coming into it more fresh when I see it in October and not comparing it too much.

For those that have seen it, what are your thoughts on that ending?