1.10.13 - "Anything Can Happen" from Mary Poppins
For those of you who know me, I'm sure it's shocking that I made it all the way to day 10 without throwing in a showtune, but fear not...here is one and there will be plenty more I'm sure.
Last night I went to see the touring production of MARY POPPINS with my friends Darcy and Nate, and as this song came on late in Act 2 I was reminded of how much I loved it, and also that the message is a great one, especially at the start of 2013.
In 2007, after a crazy snowstorm hit the northeast, a bunch of friends and I made our annual trip to NYC to see the shows and spend time together in the city. It just so happened that in this storm, Jet Blue continued to send planes, even though there were no facilities left to accommodate them, and passengers and crew were stuck on the planes for long hours. Because of this, and of federal regulations, those same crew members were unable to work later in the week, and several flights were cancelled, including my return trip home. The Headline on the New York Times that Monday morning stated "Jet Screwed" with a picture of a Jet Blue plane. (This caused me to title this trip the "Jet Screwed Tour.")
The Jet drama aside, we got to the City and went directly to the New Amsterdam theater to wait for Mary Poppins cancellation line tickets since there were no tickets available at the time. After waiting a bit, we all were able to get tickets (split up) in the orchestra, and I was sitting with my good friend Josh.
I'll preface this by saying that I love Disney, and I love musicals and I fully expected to like MARY POPPINS...but I never thought I would become slightly obsessed with it. At the end of the show (spoiler alert) Mary leaves the Banks household and flies away, but in the show she flies over the orchestra and up to the balcony over the people. I saw it early on, so this surprise hadn't been ruined for me, and I was in shock as Mary came right toward Josh and I. I think proceeded to buy every item that they sold, and lose my friends in the midst of it all. Later I found them at the stage door when I came walking in a happy daze, hands full of souveniers through the snow, like a small child leaving the circus. It was, to be honest, Magic to me.
It was so magical, in fact, that I couldn't stop talking about it. When my friend Lauren (see: Day 3 - Walking on Sunshine) made it to NYC the next day (Thanks Jet Blue) I kept telling her how great it was...and when our return flight was cancelled, I returned to the cancellation line at Mary Poppins and got to see it again with Lauren. Loving it just as much the 2nd time, I couldn't wait to hear Lauren's reaction. She said "Uh...it was alright." I was shocked. How could she not love it??? Weeks later she confided in me that she was so sick of hearing about it that she didn't want to tell me that she loved it...so much. :)
Last night was my 6th time seeing the show...and although it's hard to capture the feeling of seeing it that first time (especially without Ashley Brown as Mary), I love that the spirit of show remains the same and that Mary's repeated phrase..."Anything Can Happen If You Let It," culminates in this song.
Sadly, 2 days ago they announced that the Broadway production will close on March 3rd...and I won't get the chance to see it live in NYC again, but when I hear this song I'm taken back to that first time seeing the show, and feeling like a kid again.
Anything can happen if you let it...I feel as though I've tried to live by this phrase...sometimes life becomes the best when you let it happen and don't worry about every little detail. It's something that I'm still learning...but it's nice to have a practically perfect Nanny remind you every now and then. :)
If you reach for the stars all you get are the stars
but we've found a whole new spin if you reach for the heavens
You get the stars thrown in...
Anything Can Happen If You Let It- Ashley Brown and the Original Broadway Cast of Mary Poppins (by plmg211)
http://youtu.be/IPNOj9SGqIs
Here I am outside Mary Poppins the morning after seeing it for the first time.
Here I am with Ashley Brown, the original Broadway Mary Poppins...and the best in my book. I saw her in the role 4 times in NYC. The best.
