A RIOT of fun, colour and magic is the best way to describe Mary Poppins the musical.

The show, based loosely on the movie and on the classic stories of P L Travers, has been produced for the stage by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, with a book by Julian Fellowes, no less.

Those expecting a faithful reproduction of the film may be disappointed, but once you get your head around the fact that the story is being told in a slightly different way, delving more into the Banks family's various relationships, you can't help but enjoy the spectacle that unfolds in front of you.

All the favourite songs are there, including A Spoonful Of Sugar, Jolly Holiday, Chim Chim Cher-ee and Step In Time and of course Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, as well as all the best loved characters.

Zizi Strallen put in a performance which was 'practically perfect in every way' as Mary Poppins - she was clearly born to be on the stage, if not in this very role.

Matt Lee as Bert showed off his outstanding dance talents in Step In Time - probably the highlight of the show for me - and Maia West and Santiago Weston were brilliantly confident as the cheeky little Jane and Michael Banks.

A fantastically clever set, with plenty of truly magical moments, you'll be guaranteed to leave the theatre beaming.

Mary Poppins is at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre until June 19.