Review: Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary DVD

I still remember when I attempted to "fly" like Mary Poppins with my trusty Mary Poppins umbrella ~ off the shed's roof at my parent's house. I was about 9 years old, I believe.

To this day, I wonder how I made it through childhood with my adventures constantly putting me in dangerous paths. I can only assume that the dear nanny was looking out for me that windy day.

We all have films we grew up watching and revisiting them bring that warm wave of nostalgia. Walt Disney, M. L. Travers and the new film, Saving Mr. Banks, brings the Disney classic Mary Poppins, back around as well with its 50th anniversary DVD. It's no surprise that the film comes out during the 50th anniversary year. The release of the two-pack special edition gives a few things the original did not contain.

As a fan of the nanny who flies in to take care of the family in 1910, I looked forward to the release of the DVD. Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke are still enjoyable after all these years. This is a perfect example of how a movie becomes a classic. A story that spans time, values worth applying tour own lives, and extreme talent in the form of actors, lyricists, directors and choreographers, among others. The story, based on the works of P.L. Travers, is strong, flows seamlessly and stands the test of time.

The modern take on the movie consists of the other extras. The disc has a great sing-along, karaoke style for kids, bringing them into the story even more. The making of the film extra is enlightening with the behind-the-scenes-look. Blu Ray is also included in the two-pack, as well as a code so you can watch it on a smartphone.

Special commentary, interviews and conversations with and between costars, and song creators make the DVD a fun way to find out about the making of the movie. Deleted scenes are included, and it is digitally restored.

Bottom Line: Bringing Mary Poppins out of the vault to share with the nest generation can only be described as a scrumpdilicious idea.

For more information on the 50th anniversary edition, visit Disney.com.
Images: Disney

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Read Infused, a spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com Gotta Go is published at www.Gottago.us, and in magazines. Elizabeth writes food and dining magazine columns: Destination Dining and Cork & Fork. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre 2014 Season Lineup Features a Flying Nanny, Fiddlers, Farmers, Fortresses & Felines

One of the things I like best about Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is its desire to include a well-balanced selection in its annual offerings. Its 2014 season includes classics, comedies and current favorites. Every year theatergoers look forward to the season lineups throughout the city, hoping they will be refreshing and well considered. The disappointment of a tired, just-like-every-other lineup is as real as opening a birthday or holiday gift to find not the gift you'd dreamed of, but a generic one.

Although "Cats" is certainly familiar to B&B visitors, it has actually not played there since 2009. Opening the season with a comedy, as is their tradition, the Ken Ludwig Tony-Award winning, "Lend Me a Tenor" stands out as different than their normal fare, as does "Anything Goes" a Cole Porter musical.

I am not the only one, I'm certain, to compare versions of the same production ~ whether a film or stage performance. Mary Poppins played in Indy in 2009 with Broadway Across America Indianapolis (read my review here), and I intend to catch B&B's version to review, compare and (hopefully) enjoy as it truly is one of my favorite stories.

2014 Season

Lend Me a Tenor

Dec. 28, 2013-Feb. 2, 2014

A world-famous singer is set to perform with the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, but all doesn't go according to plan in this madcap comedy set during the 1930s. Winner of three Tony Awards ~ celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2014.

Cats

Feb. 6-March 30

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seven-time Tony Award winning story celebrates the annual gathering of the Jellicle cats at which one is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer. Based on the universally popular poetry of T.S. Eliot and also marking its 25th Anniversary in 2014, Cats remains the second-longest running Broadway musical in history.

Anything Goes

April 3-May 11

Two unlikely pairs set off on a course to true love on the S.S. American in this classic boy-meets-girl tale. But they’re going to need the help of a crew of singing sailors, exotic disguises and good old-fashioned blackmail to reach their destination. Celebrating its 80^th Anniversary in 2014, this musical comedy features music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

Mary Poppins

May 15-June 29

With a little magic and a lot of common sense, Mary Poppins is a nanny like the troubled Banks family has never seen before, and she teaches them to value each other again. Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film.

Church Basement Ladies:
A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement

July 5-Aug. 17

The new installment in the "Church Basement Ladies" series, which includes the original CBL, and A Second Helping. It's 960 and that means new high heels for confirmation, a food booth at the county fair and driving lessons. This musical comedy was inspired by the books “Growing Up Lutheran” and “Those Lutheran Ladies” by Janet Letness Martin and Suzann Nelson.

Oklahoma!

Aug. 21-Oct. 5

The first collaboration of Rodgers & Hammerstein is set in Indian Territory at the turn of the 20th century where farmers and cowboys collide and love doesn't come easy for one particularly headstrong pair. Based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, Oklahoma! originally opened on Broadway in 1943 and has spurred four revivals.

Fiddler on the Roof

Oct. 9-Nov. 23

Marking its 50^th Anniversary in 2014, the nine-time Tony Award winning musical embraces tradition in a changing world. Even in the tight-knit Jewish community of Anatevka, social mores are changing and anti-Semitism is growing in Czarist Russia.

 A Beef and Boards Christmas

Nov. 28-Dec. 23

The season is beautifully celebrated through song and story in this original production (read reviews for 2009, 2010, 2011, here), that has become a tradition for many families for more than 20 years.

  

A Christmas Carol

Dec. 6-22

The one-hour adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol, is onstage for select performances. Enhanced with holiday carols, this iconic tale portrays miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is given a second chance.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE 2014

The Pyramid Players is designed to entertain children of any age. Youngsters also have the opportunity to meet the cast after the show for pictures and autographs. Performances take place on select Fridays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Performances last one hour, are presented without intermission, and include juice and a snack.

How I Became a Pirate

Feb. 14-March 15

 Based on Melinda Long’s popular children’s book of the same name, this musical brings to the stage the tale of young Jeremy Jacob’s high seas adventure.

Sleeping Beauty

Oct. 17-Nov. 15 

This classic fairy tale made popular by the Brothers Grimm centers around a beautiful princess, who is destined to fall into a deep sleep for 100 years until being awakened by a prince’s kiss.

MEMBERSHIP & TICKET AVAILABILITY

 VIP Memberships for the 2014 season go on sale to the public starting Sept. 3. Individual show tickets to the general public start Oct. 1.

Tickets, directions and showtimes are available at BeefandBoards.com.

Images: Beef and Boards

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, an in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Gotta Go: Mary Poppins Winner Announcement

With the following comment, Michelle B. won the Mary Poppins tickets in the Gotta Go Giveaway. She told us, within the allowed 25 words, sometimes a favorite movie can be painful. Ouch!

"As kids, watched Mary Poppins with my cousin Donald - he TRULY believed umbrellas would make him FLY from the garage roof. NOPE...broken elbow instead."

She will receive four tickets to the Broadway Across America production Thursday, September 23, 7:30 pm, at The Murat Theatre in Indianapolis.

Thanks to everyone who entered, keep watching for another chance to win tickets.

Thanks to Broadway Across America for donating the family four pack and to WIBC's Joe Ulery for letting listeners know about the contest.

For tickets and show time information, visit broadwayacrossamerica.com/indianapolis
WIBC website: www.wibc.com/weekend/ulery


Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and at gottago.us.

Comments can and questions can be sent to elizabeth@gottago.us. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Gotta Go Giveaway: Mary Poppins-Win Four Tickets to Broadway Across America's Indianapolis Production

Mary Poppins, presented by Broadway Across America

Mary Poppins' annual visit, via an umbrella, to my television set as a child is a cherished memory. My mother created an excitement in the air throughout the week, humming the songs, quizzing us on various Mary Poppins movie points, and making fudge and caramel popcorn for the event.

That evening we would all (six kids and two adults) camp in the living room, in front of the television set, and slip into the fantasy world of Walt Disney. So entranced were we, as children, no one tugged on anyone's hair, no one pinched their little sister or even pushed for a better seat on the sofa. For a few hours, we just had a Jolly Holiday with Mary.

RULES

1. In the comment section, write your favorite Mary Poppins memory from any time period of your life, in 25 words or less. Pictures are allowed if you feel it would enhance the story.
2. The winner will be announced via Twitter, Facebook and in an email to the winner.
3. You must leave your full name and email address so we are able to contact you.
4. Entrants may not be related to Elizabeth J. Musgrave.
5. Entries must be in by noon, Sunday, September 19, 2010. The winner will be contacted by noon, Monday, September 20, 2010.
6. Tickets are not exchangeable, refundable or transferable in any manner.
7. Tickets are for the Thursday, September 23, 2010 performance and may not be switched to another performance for any reason.
8. All questions should be directed to elizabeth@gottago.us. Do not send questions to the newspaper, radio and Broadway Across America.

PRIZE
 Four tickets to the Broadway Across America presentation of Mary Poppins, Thursday, September 23, 2010, The Murat Theatre in the Old National Centre, Indianapolis, IN. Instructions regarding ticket pick up will be given to the winner by e-mail.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and at gottago.us. Comments can and questions can be sent to elizabeth@gottago.us.

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.