Critical Review

Critical View is a blog featuring commentary and reviews from high school students in the Hennepin Theatre Trust's Critical View program.

"Mary Poppins" musical: Simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

By Allie Brown, Critical Review

On Tuesday, April 23, I saw Mary Poppins at the Oprheum Theatre. There were two distinct age groups: middle aged people and families.

MORE »
Critical Review

"Mary Poppins" musical: Just the right amount of sugar

By Jenn Fabian, Critical Review

Walking into the Orpheum this past Tuesday night it was safe to say that I had very high expectations.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen that movie over the past seventeen years and really, once you’ve gone Disney, you can’t go back.  And after a few rough starts, it’s safe to say this show was certainly a spoonful of sugar.

MORE »
Critical Review

"Mary Poppins" musical: Supercali-nope

By Emma Dalen, Critical Review

When, as a small child, I was first shown the movie Disney’s “Mary Poppins” by my mother, I didn’t like it all that much.  I recently was shown it as a teenager, and I quite enjoyed it.  The catchy music was enjoyable, and I thought that the storyline was quite interesting.  Seeing the Broadway musical was something that I was starting to look forward to.  After seeing the musical on stage, my opinion on it is that I much prefer the movie.  Disney’s “Mary Poppins” is being performed at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis till the twenty-eighth of April.  It was written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Richard Eyre.

MORE »
Critical Review

"Mary Poppins" musical: Sugar helps the medicine go down

By Kyanna Sturm, Critical Review

Mary Poppins, a whimsical Disney classic, is showing at the Orpheum and it is a show you do not want to miss.

MORE »
Critical Review

DARE to bring your children to the "Mary Poppins" musical

By Becca Tincher, Critical Review

Did you see that title? That's right, you can dare to bring your children along to a theater production! There will be no nudity, very little destruction of innocence and childhood, and altogether shocking amounts of child-appropriate humor! It's almost scandalous!

MORE »
Critical Review

"Mary Poppins" musical: Just a touch of magic

By Alison Grausam, Critical Review

It was nearly three hours of my childhood playing on repeat. Mary Poppins, a musical playing at the Orpheum Theatre, is the innocence of childhood complete with the kind of magic that

MORE »
Critical Review

SupercalifragilistMARYPOPPINSicexpialidocious

By Nathaniel Larson, Critical Review

If you look up 17 Cherry Tree Lane on Google Maps, you encounter a small, nondescript house in the Borough of Havering in London. But according to author P. L. Travers, this address was the sight of one of the greatest phenomena for children worldwide: Mary Poppins. The Banks family is a scene of unparalleled conflict of order and chaos as the Banks' try to find a suitable nanny for their rambunctious children. Out of the blue, Mary Poppins, the savior nanny, appears to take care of the children, and the adventures that follow are odd and exciting, a feeling that this performance excellently captures with set and acting. Come along to 17 Cherry Lane (or the Orpheum Theater) for a pleasant drift through the classic story of Mary Poppins. Didn’t guess that from the picture? Perhaps Google Maps isn’t so accurate after all.

MORE »
Critical Review

"Mary Poppins" musical: Hokey, pokey

By Max Singer, Critical Review

I found myself, blown by the cold wind, into Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins is the story of the beloved nanny in Victorian England who comes and tries to reform two unruly, but good at heart, children through a process of drugging (sugar-coated?) and ‘trips’. She is no .... ordinary nanny. In my opinion, the show was hokey and pokey, and I wanted to turn myself about. Mary Poppins is running at the Orpheum from April 23rd to April 28th.

MORE »
Critical Review

"Mary Poppins" musical: Too many spoonfuls of sugar

By Nicholas Pemberton, Critical Review

Disney’s Mary Poppins was performed at the Orpheum on April 23; a theatre as grand as the Banks’ household.

MORE »
Critical Review

Theater Latte Da's "Aida": A Love Story Beyond Time

By Elisabeth Zarnoti, Critical Review

Aida is the story of a Nubian Princess and an Egyptian captain, whose treacherous love becomes their downfall. Radames (Jared Oxborough) and his crew find Aida (Austene Van) and several other Nubian women exploring the border close to Egypt. When Aida recklessly sneaks and flails a stolen sword from one of Radames's henchmen, Radames's feelings towards Aida become very apparent. You could feel the romantic tension between those two. Mereb (Nathan Barlow) instantly recognizes Aida for who she really is (a princess, certainly not a slave), and approaches Aida with the truth. He leaks her secret, and Aida becomes the epitome of the oppressed Nubian people. The nature of Radames' martial status is actually revealed as betrothed to Ammeris, the daughter of Pharaoh. Aida becomes torn between her love for her country, her people, and her "written in the stars" love Radames.

MORE »
Critical Review