What to do in Vancouver: It’s a Jolly Holiday (Season)

For children, there’s something magical about a trip to the theatre over the holiday season. Dressing up in your good clothes, getting your very own program to look through, the beautiful surroundings, the anticipation as the lights dim … it all adds up to an experience kids won’t soon forget. If you’re wondering what to do in Vancouver for an especially jolly holiday season, you’ll be glad to hear that Mary Poppins is playing at the Arts Club’s Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage on South Granville until January 5, 2014.

What to do in Vancouver this Holiday Season

This practically perfect presentation of Poppins is the Broadway musical, based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, with original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. If you and your kids love the movie, you’ll find that much of the show is familiar – but not all of it. Some of the musical numbers are the same, some are similar with slight tweaks, and some are completely different. This means that no matter how many times you’ve seen Julie Andrews sailing into the frame, the play will feel new and fresh.

For children, new and fresh aren’t always good things. When the VancouverMom.ca team attended, one young fan complained about the differences, declaring that she liked the movie better. On the other hand, the young attendees who hadn’t seen the movie had a hard time following the story. If you do bring your children, we’d recommend showing them the movie first, and then explaining that the play will be different. This way they’ll be able to follow the story, without expecting it to be a completely faithful re-telling.

Theatre Magic

There were a lot of theatrical effects in the play, which added to the magic of the experience. A letter magically rises from the ashes of a fireplace, Mary Poppins pulls an entire hatstand out of her carpet bag, and furniture breaks and then repairs itself with a snap of the fingers. Mary herself flies away holding on to her umbrella. The cast all rose to the challenge of portraying these well-loved characters with aplomb, and the children were especially impressive. If you enjoy a professional presentation with lots of little touches to keep you on your toes, you’ll want to add Mary Poppins to your list of what to do in Vancouver this holiday season.

While there is lots of magic in this show, it’s not a play for all ages. One of our team members had to leave the theatre at the intermission because her five-year-old son wasn’t able to sit still. Some kids that age would be fine, but this little one just didn’t have it in him. This is a more grown-up theatrical experience, so think carefully about whether your little one is up to sitting quietly through the two-and-a-half hour show. There is an intermission about midway through that provides a bit of a respite, and the second half of the show is a little peppier than the first, which helps kids stay engaged. All the same, you probably don’t want to pay for a ticket for your very exuberant three-year-old and then have to miss most of the show.

Taste a Spoonful of Sugar

17 performances of the play are already sold out, so if you want to add this to your list of what to do in Vancouver don’t wait to buy your tickets. To get yours, head to artsclub.com or call 604.687.1644. To get more of a taste of what you’re in for, check out the theatrical trailer: