Mary Poppins

Getting dressed up to attend a play is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Especially when it's a fantastic play.

Yesterday we went to see Mary Poppins at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, and it did not disappoint.

I've always been a fan of the movie, but after the play I love the story all the more.

The theater was packed for the 2 pm show time. The play is actually so popular its run date has been extended three times now.

The costumes and scenery were superb. The actors all stood out, from the children and parents to the infamous Bert and Mary. The bird lady, maid and Mr. Bank's holy-terror-of-a-nanny had small, but unforgettable roles.

The play was as good as Wicked when I saw it on Broadway eight years ago, and that's saying something!

Another great thing about the Alabama Shakespeare Festival itself is the surrounding grounds. We arrived early to walk trough the gardens and spend some time outside before having to sit for an extended period of time.

And while taking children to a play is sometimes questionable, even when it's a play geared mainly toward children, I knew the 2 pm time on a Wednesday meant many small children (by this I mean toddlers) would likely be in attendance.

The play itself was a good bit longer than I anticipated, and my only regret is that I didn't buy a snack before going into the seating area. I had plenty to munch on in my purse, but I promised the children a Kit-Kat if they (by this I mean Mattie!) behaved during the first act. Problem was she fell asleep right before intermission, and Jack was sulking through the entire second act because he didn't get his candy. To make matters worse the trolley was closed by the time the play was finished, so both had a meltdown in the car.

That's where daddy saved the day! I called Matt on the drive home and had him pick up two Kit-Kats for two well-behaved, but very disappointed children to have when they walked through the front door.