Draper Arts Council provides a fun theatre-going experience at the Draper Amphitheater in Draper, Utah, and now they are presenting Disney’s Mary Poppins. It is based on the 1964 Walt Disney film and the stories by P.L. Travers. The play contains songs from the film, with music and lyrics composed by Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman, as well as additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The book for this musical is written by Julian Fellowes, of Downton Abbey fame.
Mary Poppins has become a beloved classic story since the release of the Disney film. It was first transitioned to a stage musical in 2004 in the West End, and then to Broadway in 2006. It was originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Richard Eyre.
Julie Andrews originated the role of Mary Poppins, creating an icon that became many children’s definition of what a nanny is supposed to be (and earned her an Oscar award). Dick Van Dyke gave us Bert, the charming and hilarious one-man-band/pavement chalk artist/chimneysweep/anything else he wanted to be.
The story is set in London in the early 1900s. George Banks is a (rightly-named) banker, who is more concerned with his status and position than with his family. Winifred Banks, his wife, tries to help their family keep their good status, but has many insecurities and feels she cannot do anything right. Their children, Jane and Michael, drive away every nanny that comes into their lives, and have a knack for running away and causing trouble. When a magically mysterious woman named Mary Poppins arrives to be their nanny, she turns their lives upside-down, and manages to teach them all about love, respect, family, and the value of fun. As was demonstrated in the 2013 biopic of Travers, Saving Mr. Banks, it may appear that Mary Poppins comes to teach the children, but she really comes to save the Banks family from themselves, and from forgetting how important they are to each other.
Sarah Mae Ogden and Greg Dowse star as Mary Poppins and Bert. They have wonderful chemistry together, and they bring great life to their characters. It is clear that they are having so much fun on the stage, which makes the experience more fun for the audience as well. They kept in the spirit of the roles originated by Andrews and Van Dyke, while still making the characters their own.
Jane and Michael Banks are played by Ellie Spilker and Nolan Reinbold, who are both very talented and have a strong stage presence. They make it easy to believe that they are really siblings. Mr. and Mrs. Banks are played by Mike Weaver and Julie Hadlock. Weaver and Hadlock remind us that, no matter how grown-up we are, family matters, and we need to gain a little perspective when we are trying to manage our issues. The growth that both of these characters have in the story show the importance of love and support of husbands and wives, parents and children.
Several featured roles added a lot of comedy and created a fun atmosphere throughout the show, such as the Park Keeper (Jac Madsen), the Policeman (Steve Whitechurch), Mrs. Brill (Rebecca Hess), Miss Lark (Paige Carsey), and Miss Andrew (Pattie Sierra). One role that stands out is Robertson Ay, the Banks family’s servant, played by Bounta Nomichith. He steals every scene he is in, and he provides many of the show’s funniest moments. Whether he is annoying Mrs. Brill, breaking everything he touches, or dusting Mary Poppins’s skirt, it is fun to spot him onstage and watch what he will do next.
“Feed the Birds” is one of the classic ballads Mary Poppins sings in the film. In the stage production, it is turned into a beautiful duet between Mary Poppins and the Bird Woman (Brielle Anderson). Mary Poppins uses this song to teach Jane and Michael the worth of others. Walt Disney himself was very fond it, and it is transported beautifully to the stage through the harmonies of the two actresses.
Draper Arts Council’s production of Mary Poppins is produced by Vic Carsey. Susan DeMill is the director and choreographer, and Tricia Swanson is the music director. They have brought a classic tale to their stage, and they provide their own ways to make it unique to them. The musical numbers especially are pulled off very well, through the direction of these two.
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There are several fun ensemble numbers. One that particularly stands out is “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (once you learn the lyrics to this version, you also learn how to spell the word). The costumes and set are bright and colorful. Serena Mackerell plays Mrs. Corry, the woman who owns the “Talking Shop,” where she sells words and conversations. This version of the song is different than the one we know from the movie, but it is just as entertaining and fun. The little boy sitting next to me in the audience sang along with the chorus. The song with the super long word has always been a standout of Mary Poppins, and it was no exception in this production. Mackerell and the rest of the ensemble give it a lot of energy through the fast-paced choreography, making it one of the most memorable numbers in the show.
The set consists of curtains and scrims to create the backdrops, which look great, and are a simple and effective way to keep the scene changes quick. The atmosphere of the various places Mary Poppins and the children visit is created through the sound design of Jesse Burrup, and the light design of Adam Day and Elias Skinner. Costumer Tracy Figueroa gives us fun and memorable costumes that help add to the wonder. One of my favorites was in the number “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” in which the dancers literally are the kites, using their choreography to make the kites fly.
Prop master and designer Dwight Western included some elements from the film in this stage production that are not necessarily scripted, but were a fun addition. For example, during the song “Jolly Holiday,” small carousel horses perch on the side of the stage. They do not draw much attention to them, but their presence is like a little Easter egg for fans of the film, recalling the scene from the movie where Mary Poppins, Burt, Jane, and Michael race each other on the horses. The same song also includes men dressed in costumes similar to those of the waiter penguins from the movie. Small details such as these give a wink to the people who know and love the film.
There were a few of technical difficulties throughout the performance. The microphones did not always get turned on and off when they were supposed to. Once or twice, the backdrop curtain that was opening to change the scene got stuck on the set behind it. However, despite some hiccups, the actors were able to continue with their scenes, and handled it very well and professionally. In the case of the backdrop, it was fixed by Mary Poppins when she was passing it later, so it did not disrupt the scene. Productions of this caliber often have small difficulties such as these, but it shows the professionalism of the cast and crew when they are handled well and smoothly, and they don’t allow them to be terrible disruptions to the flow of the show.
All in all, it is definitely an enjoyable production of Mary Poppins. The ensemble blends nicely, and it is clear that the actors onstage are all having a lot of fun, which always makes it a more fun experience for the audience as well. It is very family-friendly, and features moments for laughing out loud for viewers of any age.
And in an outdoor theater amphitheater, it also provides the unique experience of being under the actual stars as Mary Poppins reminds us near the end of the show, “If you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars, but we’ve got a whole new spin. If you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in.” Mary Poppins in Draper is fun for the whole family. Come see it and find the magic with your own loved ones.
Draper Arts presents Disney’s Mary Poppins, music and lyrics by the Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (aka the Sherman Brothers, with additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and a script by Julian Fellowes
Draper Amphitheater, 944 E Vestry Rd, Draper, Utah 84020
June 1-2, 4, 8-9, 11, 2018, 8:00 PM, doors open at 7:30 PM
Tickets $10 adults, $7 children 12 and under, free for 2 and under.
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