'Mary Poppins - a tale for our times' diff viewer (0/1)

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Mary Poppins - a tale for our times	Mary Poppins - a tale for our times
2009-01-24 08:50:44 UTC	2009-01-26 19:41:50 UTC (2 days later)
A POINT OF VIEW The tale of the twinkly-eyed nanny is suddenly topical - because the father is a banker suspicious of a money-making scheme that's too good to be true, says Harold Evans.	A POINT OF VIEW The tale of the twinkly-eyed nanny is suddenly topical - because the father is a banker suspicious of a money-making scheme that's too good to be true, says Harold Evans.
Who'd have thought that an English nanny with a sharp tongue could have a message in these glum times for all the grown-ups? Suddenly this tale seems more timely	Who'd have thought that an English nanny with a sharp tongue could have a message in these glum times for all the grown-ups? Suddenly this tale seems more timely
I'm talking about Mary Poppins, whose magical umbrella landed her on Broadway at the end of 2006 just in time to see the clever people on Wall Street slip on multiple banana skins.	I'm talking about Mary Poppins, whose magical umbrella landed her on Broadway at the end of 2006 just in time to see the clever people on Wall Street slip on multiple banana skins.
The sweet Disney musical is still running - my 18-year-old daughter and 22-year-old son loved it and so did we - but only now is anyone noticing that the period piece fable set a hundred years ago is grimly relevant to our troubled times.	The sweet Disney musical is still running - my 18-year-old daughter and 22-year-old son loved it and so did we - but only now is anyone noticing that the period piece fable set a hundred years ago is grimly relevant to our troubled times.
I know the majority of the folk filling the seats on Broadway didn't buy their Mary Poppins seats at $121 a ticket because they were thirsting for a political seminar, but they'll get it in the musical's incidental moral tale of Mr George Banks, the exceedingly bourgeois bowler-hatted father of Mary Poppins' charges, Michael and Jane.	I know the majority of the folk filling the seats on Broadway didn't buy their Mary Poppins seats at $121 a ticket because they were thirsting for a political seminar, but they'll get it in the musical's incidental moral tale of Mr George Banks, the exceedingly bourgeois bowler-hatted father of Mary Poppins' charges, Michael and Jane.
Mr Banks, if I may remind you, was suspended from his banking job because he upset the owners by showing the door to a man who had a too-clever scheme to make millions. Mr Von Hussler may now be seen as a representative of the people in what used to be laughingly called high finance Hear Radio 4's A Point of View	Mr Banks, if I may remind you, was suspended from his banking job because he upset the owners by showing the door to a man who had a too-clever scheme to make millions. Mr Von Hussler may now be seen as a representative of the people in what used to be laughingly called high finance Hear Radio 4's A Point of View
When Mr Banks is summoned back a few months into his suspension by the elderly gnomes who own the bank, he's expecting to get the chop. Instead, he's embraced as a hero because the rejected client took his scheme to competitors and, to the joy of the gnomes, the scheme ruined them.	When Mr Banks is summoned back a few months into his suspension by the elderly gnomes who own the bank, he's expecting to get the chop. Instead, he's embraced as a hero because the rejected client took his scheme to competitors and, to the joy of the gnomes, the scheme ruined them.
Mr Von Hussler, to give the rogue his name, may now be seen as a prophetic representative of the people in what used to be laughingly called high finance who've brought so much misery today with their wretched derivatives, sub-primes and credit default swaps. A bystander makes his feelings about Bernard Madoff known	Mr Von Hussler, to give the rogue his name, may now be seen as a prophetic representative of the people in what used to be laughingly called high finance who've brought so much misery today with their wretched derivatives, sub-primes and credit default swaps. A bystander makes his feelings about Bernard Madoff known
Rocco Landesman, the president of the third largest theatre group, tells me several Broadway investors have lost millions that could well have gone into original musicals but won't - thanks to the machinations of just one notorious investment manager, Bernard Madoff, the man with an enigmatic Mona Lisa smile whose trick was to make $50 billion disappear. Von Hussler , Madoff - what is it with these names? Watch out next for Mrs Ripoff.	Rocco Landesman, the president of the third largest theatre group, tells me several Broadway investors have lost millions that could well have gone into original musicals but won't - thanks to the machinations of just one notorious investment manager, Bernard Madoff, the man with an enigmatic Mona Lisa smile whose trick was to make $50 billion disappear. Von Hussler , Madoff - what is it with these names? Watch out next for Mrs Ripoff.
Falling curtains	Falling curtains
That Mary Poppins has suddenly acquired such vivid topicality - a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious topicality - is not good news for anyone else on Broadway where the lights have gone out in theatre after theatre. One of Broadway's victims of the credit crunch...	That Mary Poppins has suddenly acquired such vivid topicality - a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious topicality - is not good news for anyone else on Broadway where the lights have gone out in theatre after theatre. One of Broadway's victims of the credit crunch...
In a single week at the beginning of January, no fewer than nine productions ran down the curtain for the last time. This period always marks Broadway's winter of discontent. It's heavily dependent on tourists from within and outside the US, and they stay at home risking brain death from watching reality shows on television.	In a single week at the beginning of January, no fewer than nine productions ran down the curtain for the last time. This period always marks Broadway's winter of discontent. It's heavily dependent on tourists from within and outside the US, and they stay at home risking brain death from watching reality shows on television.
But this year some productions that were expected to run like the well-reviewed musical Gypsy - "one of the best musicals ever written" - have been pulled. The musical 13, shuttered a week ago, only opened last autumn.	But this year some productions that were expected to run like the well-reviewed musical Gypsy - "one of the best musicals ever written" - have been pulled. The musical 13, shuttered a week ago, only opened last autumn.
Only 20 shows are running on Broadway as I speak, compared with 36 in London's West End. Some fear there will be dark theatres in the spring.	Only 20 shows are running on Broadway as I speak, compared with 36 in London's West End. Some fear there will be dark theatres in the spring.
The critic John Heilpern blames the empty seats on theatre managements.	The critic John Heilpern blames the empty seats on theatre managements.
"Broadway must be the only industry in America that hasn't noticed the country is in an economic crisis. They've even got the chutzpah to increase ticket prices." ... and another one	"Broadway must be the only industry in America that hasn't noticed the country is in an economic crisis. They've even got the chutzpah to increase ticket prices." ... and another one
I certainly have to think twice before taking the family to a show they may hate at a cost of $500, and think a third time if I want to avoid the common affliction of leg cramp scrunched up in a typical Broadway seat constructed in the 1920s, and since I am asked to pay an extra $17 to $25 for an aisle seat.	I certainly have to think twice before taking the family to a show they may hate at a cost of $500, and think a third time if I want to avoid the common affliction of leg cramp scrunched up in a typical Broadway seat constructed in the 1920s, and since I am asked to pay an extra $17 to $25 for an aisle seat.
Producers and theatre managements in turn point to the huge risks they take. Three quarters of all musicals lose their backers' money because producers and designers want to excite with lavish costumes, sets and stars, knowing that if they don't the critics will pan them. And managements and producers in turn blame the unions for the costs of rules they impose while drawing as much as $100,000 to $200,000 a year during production.	Producers and theatre managements in turn point to the huge risks they take. Three quarters of all musicals lose their backers' money because producers and designers want to excite with lavish costumes, sets and stars, knowing that if they don't the critics will pan them. And managements and producers in turn blame the unions for the costs of rules they impose while drawing as much as $100,000 to $200,000 a year during production.
Why-aye	Why-aye
Whoever you care to blame, the cupboard is certainly looking very bare for the kind of original razzle-dazzle productions of Broadway mythology.	Whoever you care to blame, the cupboard is certainly looking very bare for the kind of original razzle-dazzle productions of Broadway mythology.
The original showbiz capital of the world! The bright light of America's cultural identity! The beacon of optimism! ... and another one	The original showbiz capital of the world! The bright light of America's cultural identity! The beacon of optimism! ... and another one
The address where you can feel the buoyancy of America, see the American dream of 42nd Street come true before your eyes in dance, song and spectacle.	The address where you can feel the buoyancy of America, see the American dream of 42nd Street come true before your eyes in dance, song and spectacle.
Well, not quite. More of the effort these days is going into revivals and what's making box office music are the imports from Britain. Broadway's top earner is Billy Elliott.	Well, not quite. More of the effort these days is going into revivals and what's making box office music are the imports from Britain. Broadway's top earner is Billy Elliott.
Would you have put savings into asking Americans to pay $136 for a ticket to see striking coal miners dancing in Mrs Thatcher's Britain and exchanging jokes in Geordie-speak?	Would you have put savings into asking Americans to pay $136 for a ticket to see striking coal miners dancing in Mrs Thatcher's Britain and exchanging jokes in Geordie-speak?
You'd have done well, since Billy is earning more than a million dollars a week. The US has been so eager for a laugh it has even succumbed to what the critic John Heilpern calls that "noble irresistible British tradition known as Bedroom Farce".	You'd have done well, since Billy is earning more than a million dollars a week. The US has been so eager for a laugh it has even succumbed to what the critic John Heilpern calls that "noble irresistible British tradition known as Bedroom Farce".
When the retro farce Boeing-Boeing came to Broadway in 1965, it lasted only 23 performances. This time rave reviews by Heilpern and others for the revival and its star Mark Rylance - again, both imported from England - encouraged Puritan America to explore its own appetite for sex and silliness. I'm glad to say Boeing-Boeing seduced enough Americans to pay its way.	When the retro farce Boeing-Boeing came to Broadway in 1965, it lasted only 23 performances. This time rave reviews by Heilpern and others for the revival and its star Mark Rylance - again, both imported from England - encouraged Puritan America to explore its own appetite for sex and silliness. I'm glad to say Boeing-Boeing seduced enough Americans to pay its way.
Familiar faces	Familiar faces
For John Lahr, the theatre critic of the New Yorker, the shuttered theatres are all too reminiscent of what happened after the stock market crash of 1929. A record number of productions were running then - 264 - but by 1934, the number had halved. Everybody squeeze in	For John Lahr, the theatre critic of the New Yorker, the shuttered theatres are all too reminiscent of what happened after the stock market crash of 1929. A record number of productions were running then - 264 - but by 1934, the number had halved. Everybody squeeze in
Talent went west to make the new talking pictures and create a rival to Broadway. But Lahr is less concerned about the number of shows than what gets on during hard times.	Talent went west to make the new talking pictures and create a rival to Broadway. But Lahr is less concerned about the number of shows than what gets on during hard times.
"People will want to be distracted. Nobody ever went broke selling forgetfulness."	"People will want to be distracted. Nobody ever went broke selling forgetfulness."
Mary Poppins would say cheerfully it is the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down - in the most delightful way - but Lahr fears the serious dramas that address cultural issues in US society will not be staged.	Mary Poppins would say cheerfully it is the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down - in the most delightful way - but Lahr fears the serious dramas that address cultural issues in US society will not be staged.
"London theatre is healthier than New York because it is more closely connected to the culture, has succumbed less to corporate blandness."	"London theatre is healthier than New York because it is more closely connected to the culture, has succumbed less to corporate blandness."
I'd bow to nobody in my respect for British originality in the likes of Tom Stoppard, David Hare and Stephen Daldry, but Britain of course has the huge advantage over America's commercial theatre in the stimulus for creativity writers and producers get in state-supported theatre at the National, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court. Cherish them!	I'd bow to nobody in my respect for British originality in the likes of Tom Stoppard, David Hare and Stephen Daldry, but Britain of course has the huge advantage over America's commercial theatre in the stimulus for creativity writers and producers get in state-supported theatre at the National, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court. Cherish them!
Since original all-American musicals are not likely to come back soon, Broadway has been turning to straight plays that are a lot cheaper. Traditionally they're a harder sell, so the big hope is that populating them with faces and voices people have got used on television and in movies will make the difference.	Since original all-American musicals are not likely to come back soon, Broadway has been turning to straight plays that are a lot cheaper. Traditionally they're a harder sell, so the big hope is that populating them with faces and voices people have got used on television and in movies will make the difference.
There's excitement about what the Sopranos boss James Gandolfini and movie star Geoffrey Rush can do for two French plays being brought to New York by Britain's Robert Fox.Jeremy Piven soldiers on	There's excitement about what the Sopranos boss James Gandolfini and movie star Geoffrey Rush can do for two French plays being brought to New York by Britain's Robert Fox.Jeremy Piven soldiers on
Drawing on electronic star power is a reverse of the east-west migration that happened in the 30s, but that, too, has its risks. Fellow actors, producers and stage hands would like to get their hands on the windpipe of Jeremy Piven, who plays the fast-talking agent in the hit TV show Entourage. He was brought from Los Angeles to New York to play in a revival of David Mamet's Speed the Plow from October to February.	Drawing on electronic star power is a reverse of the east-west migration that happened in the 30s, but that, too, has its risks. Fellow actors, producers and stage hands would like to get their hands on the windpipe of Jeremy Piven, who plays the fast-talking agent in the hit TV show Entourage. He was brought from Los Angeles to New York to play in a revival of David Mamet's Speed the Plow from October to February.
Only he didn't. He walked out of the play this month, saying his doctor had told him his exhaustion was due to eating a lot of sushi. It had given him mercury poisoning.	Only he didn't. He walked out of the play this month, saying his doctor had told him his exhaustion was due to eating a lot of sushi. It had given him mercury poisoning.
The gossip columnists have had a field day tracking the unexhausted Piven at bars on the Lower East Side. Writs are flying. Better than that, Mamet is writing dialogue for the unfolding news story. "My understanding" he says of Piven, "is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."	The gossip columnists have had a field day tracking the unexhausted Piven at bars on the Lower East Side. Writs are flying. Better than that, Mamet is writing dialogue for the unfolding news story. "My understanding" he says of Piven, "is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."