Review: Maija Poppanen

Feel-good Poppins

Helsinki City Theatre’s musical Maija Poppanen is thrilling to watch. The ever-wonderful story of an original, slightly anarchist, flying nanny has been shaped into an entertaining and touching one under the direction of Swedish Hans Berndtsson and choreography by Rebecca Evanne . There is magic, aerial flights, and amazing dance and singing scenes. The performance is based on a story written by P.L. Travers and a Disney movie. Mikko Koivusalo has made a funny Finnish translation. Unknown to the general public, Emmi Kangas , who studied musical theatre in London, is the charming and beautiful-voiced Maija Poppins. Eero Saarinen is a man in his place as a family man, Yrjö Bank, who is experiencing a revolution in his life values. In the child leads, Anna and Mikko Pankki are played by four girls and boys. Dreams and kites fly in a beautifully staged performance and people of all ages have a great time.