Mary Poppins is Simply Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

This weekend I headed to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta with my mother and five of my six children to experience the Broadway-touring company's retelling of Mary Poppins.

Expecting a stage version of the classic Walt Disney tale, we were all treated to a wonderfully blended new production crafted by weaving our most beloved scenes and tunes from the 1964 movie with new music and acts written specifically for the stage and based on the original series of novels by P. L. Travers, who signed over the rights for a stage show to producer Cameron Macintosh not long before her death in 1996.

This stage version, which was first a hit in London, made its Broadway debut nearly 3 ½ years ago. Atlanta is currently host to the touring show, which will make its way across America, including upcoming stops in Tampa, Washington DC, Boston, and Seattle. Disney, which co-produced the stage show with Macintosh, lists all cities and dates on its website.

Caroline Sheen portrayed Mary on the afternoon of our visit, and it was, indeed, superb casting. From her first magical appearance in answer to the Banks children's pleas, to her umbrella-assisted exit up and over the audience, she was "practically perfect in every way." Gavin Lee, who originated the role in London and New York, did Dick Van Dyke proud as Mary's BFF Bert. In fact, at one point he stole the show.

The theater's patrons became mesmerized as the chimney sweeps tapped their way across rooftops dotting the stage, and Bert made his way up and over the proscenium arch as the ensemble sang "Step in Time." Hands-down the highlight of the entire production.

Other notable numbers include "Let's Go Fly a Kite" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", although the latter number was introduced through a bizarre scene at Mrs. Corry's, whose contribution to the plot I never fully understood. "Feed the Birds" is as touching as the screen version, with Mary Vanarsdel portraying the Bird Woman to a tee.

There are new tunes by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, including my favorites - "Being Mrs. Banks" and "Practically Perfect." The new music meshes so well with the familiar songs of Richard and Robert Sherman, it's hard to believe they were written decades apart.

The music is not the only timeless element of Mary Poppins. The Banks family may reside in Victorian England, but their issues - the possibility of job loss, misbehaving children in search of affection, and a couple emotionally estranged - are as relevant today as at any time since they were written.

One word of caution - despite the wholesome family-friendliness of the story and the songs, this version of the tale runs a tad long. At 2 hours and 45 minutes, young tots may not be able to sit still for the entire telling. By the second act, our section was home to several preschoolers crawling over grandparents or dancing in the aisles, tethered to mums by outstretched arms.