During our last evening in New York, we decided to explore more of Manhattan. After taking the Long Island Railroad back into the City, we found ourselves on 42nd Street, on our way to Times Square. While everyone advises a visitor to Manhattan, to not look up because gawking at the sights will always indicate a tourist, we could not help but stare at the glitz and larger-than-life sights along 42nd.

We strolled from 8th to 7th, passing theatre after theatre. On the corner of 7th and 42nd, the glare from the huge screens above lit up the street. Across the street, we spied the New Amsterdam Theatre, which received so much attention a few years ago when The Walt Disney Company invested in its restoration. It struck us that we should check to see if the theatre still had tickets to its new play, Mary Poppins. As a former Disney Cast Member, I would be remiss to miss out on the opportunity to see it.

We arrived on a Tuesday evening and the theatre still had tickets. We purchased two tickets for the 8pm performance for $80 each. Our seats, on the upper mezzanine, gave us a terrific view of the stage. Later, my husband told me that our seats were selling for $140 online.

We arrived slightly earlier than curtain time so we could explore this restored gem. Downstairs, we found an oval room where a bar provided refreshments. The details lining the staircases and walls impressed me greatly. Finally, when we sat down in our seats, I gazed at the balcony boxes perched at either side of the stage. The ceiling featured ornate carvings, painted in subtle colors. Unlike theatres such as the El Capitan and the Pantages in Los Angeles, the New Amsterdam did not use much gold leafing, which appealed to me more since the subtlety did not overwhelm me.

When the show started, it became apparent that the sets would be a major contributor to this play. The unique sets made great utilization of space, the area above the performers, and wowed the audience. Ashley Brown’s entrance as Mary Poppins, breathed life into the play after a somewhat slower start. As the first act proceeded, I felt restless. I did not recognize the first few musical numbers, nor did I follow the storyline. Where was the music from The Sherman Brothers? Where was the storyline from Disney’s Oscar-winner?

During the intermission, I read the background on the play and how Cameron MacIntosh developed it according to Pamela Travers’ book. The added scenes required additional musical numbers, which explained the differences from the film. In addition, the Sherman Brothers’ musical numbers featured additional lyrics. After I realized this, I became more comfortable with the play and began to enjoy it more.

By the end of the second act, I stood with the rest of the audience to participate in a standing ovation.