Showtune Sunday: All About Mary Poppins!

I saw Mary Poppins for the first time yesterday.

I know, seems impossible to have not seen it before but somehow, I had not. I’ve already gotten the incredulous ‘How could you have not seen it?” comments on Facebook so please spare me here and let’s move on.

Maybe it was meant to be that I would not see it (except for a few of the most famous musical numbers here and there) until yesterday’s screening at AFI Fest at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (called something else now, don’t care).

It was the perfect movie-going experience.

I stood in line to get some popcorn and next to me in line were two of Julie Andrews’ grandchildren!

Settled into my seat towards the front in the renovated theater and Karen Dotrice who played Jane Banks in the film, was introduced and told us that she had never seen the completely through!

Then, the star himself Dick Van Dyke was introduced to a standing ovation and, looking terrific at 88, talked about dancing and drawing with chalk on the sidewalk and that it seemed like yesterday.

What a treat to have him there.

And finally, Richard Sherman was in the house. He and his late brother Robert won Academy Awards for the score they wrote for the film and for the song Chim Chim Cher-ee.

All this and we had not seen the movie yet! Then we did and I was absolutely enchanted.

It was well worth the wait.

Here are a trio of my favorite numbers from this movie classic: