Mary Poppins
Shane Peterman, Producing Artistic Director presents the WaterTower Theatre Production of
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s
Mary Poppins
A Musical based on the stories of P.L.Travers and the Walt Disney film
Book by Julian Fellowes
Original Music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe and George Stiles
Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh
Directed by John De Los Santos
Music Directed by Cody Dry
Choreographed by John De Los Santos and Vasthy Mompoint
First preview performance July 17, 2024
My thoughts on Mary Poppins or… a “practically perfect” preview
Everyone’s favorite nanny has blown into the WaterTower Theatre making us all kids again with her carpetbag, umbrella, cheerful songs, and high-flying magic.
Mary’s world looks no worse for wear after more than sixty years have passed since the Walt Disney film premiered. The creative team here has done splendid work making Mary’s Edwardian world colorful and enchanting. Bob Lavallee’s scenic design takes us from rooftops to parks to the home of Jane and Michael Banks with smooth transitions. The costumes by Christina Vargas are outstanding whether it’s the proper attire of Mr. Banks or the many layered rags of the Bird Woman. There’s also outstanding character defining makeup and wigs from Michael B. Moore. Aaron Johansen’s lighting accentuates our journey around London and Mark Howard’s sound design keeps all those great songs you’ve known since childhood crisp and clear.
And speaking of songs, Music Director Cody Dry and his wonderful orchestra make the score the “chim cheeriest” and Dry’s work with the vocalists has the entire company in tip top form. Vasthy Mompoint and Director John De Los Santos have created always fun to watch and sometimes dizzyingly spectacular choreography, especially for “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Step in Time.” Director De Los Santos, who helmed the unforgettable Kinky Boots at Uptown Players a couple seasons ago, keeps Mary Poppins moving at a brisk clip, but always lets the heart of the show shine through.
De Los Santos has cast the show with terrific performers. Indeed, one of the great strengths of this Mary Poppins is that performers even in the smaller roles are polished and totally committed to their characters. Cast members Andrew Cave as Neleus, Nolan Spinks as the Park Keeper, Aren Hugo as Miss Lark, Devin Johnson as Northbrook, and Michael Ledbetter as the Policeman are all great assets to the show as are the many others in the cast. Please click on the View the Program button to view the entire cast. Oh, and special kudos to Andrew Nicolas who shaved off his trademark beard to play a short but hilarious bit as the outgoing nanny Katie Nanna at the top of the show. Now that’s commitment to character!
In the more prominent roles Stan Graner is super as both the always loud retired Admiral Boom and the reserved bank chairman. Kelly Schaaf is fun as Mrs. Corry who runs the Talking Shop, but she is scarily sensational as the wicked nanny Miss Andrew. Schaaf’s song “Brimstone and Treacle” is a show highlight. The always appealing Max Morgan is Robertson Ay, a clumsy somewhat useless servant boy in the Banks household. Robertson gives Morgan a chance to show off some excellent physical comedy skills.
To show you what a good actor Linda K. Leonard is, I didn’t realize until I started writing this review that she was not only the Bird Woman, who sang the sadly beautiful “Feed the Birds” so stirringly in the show, but also the Banks’ constantly complaining housekeeper Mrs. Brill. Leonard makes these characters so distinct, with the aid of costumes and wigs, that I didn’t recognize her as the housekeeper even though I was on the front row.
Tim Brawner and Olivia Cartwright are George and Winifred Banks, parents of Jane and Michael. Cartwright is quite good as the distracted mother and wife who gave up a stage career to marry George. She is eager to please her husband and doesn’t quite know how to love her children. Brawner, looking like he stepped out of an Edwardian daguerreotype, is moving as George, a stern man who is focused on his job so completely that he neglects his children and wife. George was traumatized by the evil Miss Andrew as a youngster, and this has colored his life. With the help of Mary Poppins and his wife and children, George learns to love again. Both Cartwright and Brawner have voices that bring power to their musical numbers.
Alyssa Sabo and Noah Brown appeared as Jane and Michael Banks on the evening I attended. Jane is basically a good kid but is sometimes stubborn and snobbish. Michael is an intelligent young man who can be naughty at times and uncooperative, but both he and his sister become more understanding and self-aware through Mary’s no nonsense nannying and love. Sabo and Brown amazed me. They were both always in character, always in the moment. They never missed a cue. And I know kids hate to be called this, but they were both adorable.
Bert the Chimney Sweep is played by the remarkable Jon J. Peterson. Peterson is a gifted singer, dancer, actor who exudes all the charm the role of the Cockney chimney sweep demands. In many ways, Bert is a sort of nanny to the children as well. He seems to be always there for them when they need him. Peterson has the proverbial twinkle in his eye and a wry smile that makes his Bert a winner. And can this man ever tap dance! A very, very fine bloke.
I wouldn’t say that Jocelyn Hansen is “practically perfect” as Mary Poppins. I would say she is perfect. Perfect soprano. Perfectly charismatic. Perfectly magical. It’s an iconic role and Hansen makes it her own. Mary is that perfect balance of love and discipline that we all need in our lives, and love and discipline are the powers that give Mary the ability to transform the Banks family. I was impressed with Hansen in last year’s Goin’ Hollywood at the WaterTower but as the classic nanny, she blew me away completely and I have to admit to getting a bit misty eyed when she flew away for the last time.
Yes, there’s flying in this Mary Poppins and all sorts of other wonders that will thrill you whether you are in your first or second childhood. There’s truly something about this Mary.
