REVIEW: PRACTICALLY IMPERFECT @ OSO ARTS CENTRE

🎭 Practically Imperfect

📍 OSO Arts Centre, Barnes Green, London, SW13 0LF

🗓 Sunday 15th February 2026

⭐️ 3 Stars

POPPINS UNPLUGGED

It's no secret that although I love the movie and book of Mary Poppins, the musical was certainly not for me. As I entered the OSO Arts Centre, nestled in the heart of Barnes Green, after travelling almost 2 hours across London on a wet and miserable Sunday, I wondered how I would feel about this interpretation of the character, and her creator.

I'd made the journey having been invited into the sanctuary - or perhaps the boxing ring - of P.L. Travers in Clare Norburn's new play PRACTICALLY IMPERFECT.

I found the concept, quite frankly, inspired. We find the creator of the world's most famous nanny confronted by her own creation. It is a surreal, psychological tug-of-war that abandons the technicolor gloss of Disney in favour of the Edwardian grit and music hall melodies that Travers originally envisioned.

Clare Norburn's script is the highlight here. It's sharp, intellectually curious, and beautifully researched, capturing the friction between an author's intent and the world's expectations.

Bringing the "practically perfect" nanny to life is Joanna Brown, who is simply a revelation. Brown possesses a stage presence that is as commanding as it is delicate. She navigates the shift from Mary's crisp authority to her more soulful, musical moments with ease, boasting a singing voice that feels both nostalgic and fresh. She doesn't just play Poppins; she is the catalyst that keeps the show's momentum moving forward.

However, the production hits a few snags in its execution. While Lottie Walker brings a certain stoicism to the role of P.L. Travers, there seemed to be a sense of detachment in the performance on the night I attended. It felt at times as though the dialogue was being delivered with a formal precision that lacked the raw, lived-in emotional weight required to make us believe in Travers' inner turmoil. I'm sure that as the tour continues, the performance will settle into a more naturalistic rhythm that allows the character's vulnerability to shine through the text.

Visually, the production feels slightly at odds with itself. While the period-accurate chair and stool certainly evoke the 1960s era, they didn't quite resonate with the specific, thorny personality of Travers herself - a woman whose environment usually felt far more curated and cluttered with her own history. These small staging choices, combined with some slightly hesitant pacing, gave the production a workshop-like feel that didn't quite match the professional pedigree of the writing.

PRACTICALLY IMPERFECT is a piece with a massive heart and a brilliant script at its core. With a powerhouse performance from Brown and a fascinating premise, it is well worth a visit, even if the production itself is still finding its feet.

The show is touring until Friday 20th March. Click here for details of upcoming tour dates, and for more information on The Telling and their other projects.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Practically Imperfect was gifted by The Telling who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Lottie Walker as P.L. Travers; Joanna Brown as Mary Poppins

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 20 minutes, including interval

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