According to the Globe & Mail, Mary Poppins The Musical has garnered the most Olivier nominations (British version of the Tony) EVER.

From what I've heard from my inside sources, it is a show worth seeing. When I first heard about this Disney project I was afraid that despite loving the movie, the stage version might be a tad saccharine and tired (a criticism that has been thrown at Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Musical). However, the buzz is that it is a lot darker, a lot truer to the original book, than was the movie. We get to know a bit o' the darker side of Mary (why is she still single?). It sounds intriguing...so how are they going to get those penguins to dance in 8 shows a week?

As for The Woman in White? Well I haven't seen it. I only know one person who saw it and how shall I say this...he loathed it.

London -- Mary Poppins and The Producers led the nominations yesterday for this year's Laurence Olivier Awards, honouring achievement in London theatre, opera, and dance during 2004.

Mary Poppins had nine nominations including best new musical, best actress in a musical for the show's star Laura Michelle Kelly and best actor in a musical for Gavin Lee, who plays Bert the chimneysweep.

The Producers received eight nominations. Co-stars Lee Evans and Nathan Lane are up for best actor in a musical. Leigh Zimmerman, who plays Swedish secretary Ulla, is a nominee in the best-actress category.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest West End show The Woman in White, which has been less well-received, had five Olivier nods."