9.63°C Practically Imperfect, presented by Telling Tales and Blue Fire Theatre, played at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester.
The premise behind this play is an intriguing one. Alone in her home late at night, P L Travers is awoken by her greatest creation, Mary Poppins, who puts the author to task and attempts to make her face up to her past and her behaviour. Travers was a notoriously private woman, and difficult to deal with, famously facing up to Walt Disney and unhappy with the film adaptation – something well documented in the film Saving Mr Banks. With a dysfunctional relationship with her adoptive son, a difficult childhood in Australia, relationships with both men and women, and a reputation for rudeness towards children and the media, there is rich material here to explore.
Yet Clare Norburn’s script only begins to touch on some of these fascinating elements. The play outlines aspects of Travers’ life rather than fully digging into them, meaning the emotional and psychological depth the premise promises never quite fully develops.
As P L Travers, Lottie Walker gives a restrained performance that keeps the character somewhat guarded. While this suits Travers’ famously private nature, it also means the emotional stakes of the confrontation with Mary Poppins sometimes feel slightly distant.
Practically Imperfect is an intriguing idea that draws on a fascinating figure in literary history. While the play doesn’t always explore its themes as deeply as it might, the premise remains compelling, and productions like this are an important part of keeping new writing and creative experimentation alive on local stages. The Headgate Theatre continues to provide a vital space for companies to explore new ideas and bring distinctive work to Colchester audiences.
