Family favourite is feast for eyes and ears

Mary Poppins at the Palace, Manchester

NO question which is the region’s biggest and best show this Christmas.

Despite the glitter and scale of other local attractions, this Cameron Mackintosh production cost millions back in 2004, and comes to Manchester until March showing how, and why, it is worth every penny.

Fans of book or movie won’t be in the slightest disappointed by Julian Fellowes’ terrific amalgamation of both into a fast-moving tale of dysfunctional family brought together by miracle-worker Poppins.

And the great 1960s film score is augmented by new songs that fit the mood perfectly. Mackintosh and co-producers Disney stand right at the top of current musical theatre production, not simply because of the money they spend but because that money serves a meticulous attention to detail and scale.

Mackintosh gathers the best creative forces: Richard Eyre as director, Matthew Bourne as choreographer and National Theatre veteran Bob Crowley as costume and set designer.

Throw in top rank musical direction and superb lighting and sound and the result is a continuous feast for eyes and ears. Crowley creates vast sets, brilliant “sketch” backdrops of London exteriors and interiors, a huge pen-and-ink frontage for the Cherry Tree Lane home of the Banks family — which opens, doll’s house-like in a warmly-coloured interior.

Then there’s the park, Corry’s brilliant tent, the London rooftop skyline and much more, all washed with brilliant colour and light.

That’s not even mentioning the special effects. Performances are polished and immensely attractive.

Lancaster’s Lisa O’Hare is a triumph as Mary, while Daniel Crossley is an equally-superb Bert.

The show has pleasures everywhere, from the delightful confidence of the two youngsters playing the Banks children (Tuesday was William Pearce and Isabella Sedgwick) to Martin Ball and Louise Bowden as their parents and the short-lived but never-forgotten presence of Deryn Edwards as formidable nanny Miss Andrew. There isn’t a weak point anywhere.

If you haven’t spent your Christmas budget, take the family. Massively expensive, but massively worth it.