IF A PANTOMIME is not to your tastes over Christmas, then the Wales Millennium Centre has the show for you. 

Mary Poppins is the story of the Banks family - the children, Jane and Michael, are out of control and are in need of a new nanny. When a mysterious young woman named Mary Poppins appears at their doorstep, the family finds that she’s the answer to their prayers, but in the most peculiar way.

What I really enjoyed in this show is that the team that put the musical together were not afraid to re-write the film to fit as a stage musical.  The new songs added to the performance and stood up well against the film favourite’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Let’s Go Fly a Kite.

Zizi Strallen was “Positively Perfect” as Mary Poppins as Matt Lee portrayed the loveable Bert in a really cheeky chappie way.

The big song and dance numbers were outstanding, with the bright, vivid, colourful Jolly Holiday and wonderful tap dancing in Step in Time my favourites from the show.

The real highlights of the evening were the technological tricks that appeared throughout the show, from appearing and disappearing beds to Mary Poppins bag which (of course) had a coat hanger magically appear from it.

Mary Poppins continues at Wales Millennium Centre until January 14.

Rachel Howells