Julie Andrews Makes Stage Appearance at Mary Poppins
By James Inverne
18 Mar 2005
The screen Mary Poppins met her onstage double March 17 when Julie Andrews visited the London stage version at the Prince Edward Theatre.
Seated in a box during the show, Ms. Andrews formally bestowed her approval by taking to the stage during the curtain calls and making a speech praising the cast.
According to the Evening Standard newspaper, Laura Michelle Kelly, who plays Mary in the Cameron Mackintosh-Disney Theatricals co-production, was tearful during Andrews’ speech. “It’s always harder when your hero is watching,” she told the newspaper. “Doing the show tonight, I could feel her over my shoulder, and I was thinking all the time, ‘I got that bit from her.’”
Andrews appeared delighted with the show, not least the moment when Kelly flew over her head into the auditorium. “Can you imagine the joy and memories that this has brought back to me?” Andrews said during her speech, turning to the cast to add, “Now the future lies in your hands. You have got to carry the torch from now on. Come to Broadway. Wow them all. I will be waiting.”
Andrews, whose first lead role (in Humpty Dumpty) was at the Prince Edward, now lives between America and Switzerland. She may be able to see another of her classic screen roles on stage before too long — if plans for a West End revival of The Sound Of Music progress.
For more information on Mary Poppins, call (0)870 850 9191.
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