"Mary Poppins" at Lakeshore Players Theatre

Do you know who your local community theater is? There are so many great community theaters in the #TCTheater area that it's impossible to keep track of them all. But I encourage everyone to find one in your area and support them. There are so many people working so hard for little reward other than seeing your smiling face in the audience. My local community theater is Lakeshore Players Theatre* in White Bear Lake, which opened a gorgeous new building about a year ago. The final production in their first full season in their new space is Mary Poppins, a show that celebrates imagination, determination, play, and family. I'll admit that the biggest draw to see this show was seeing one of my #TCTheater favorites Quinn Shadko as Mary Poppins, but the whole show is just darling. If you're in the Northeast metro be sure to visit them in the Hanifl Performing Arts Center, or check out what theater is happening in your neighborhood.

"Mary Poppins" at Artistry

Artistry's Mary Poppins may be just the thing you need right now. That is, an escape from reality into the magical world of everyone's favorite nanny, filled with talking dogs, moving statues, high-flying kites, and fantastic dance numbers. Watching the show is, indeed, a jolly holiday as Artistry's large and talented cast brings the beloved movie to life with unstoppable energy. This is my third time seeing the 2004 stage adaptation of the 1964 classic movie and P.L. Travers' series of books, with book by Julian Fellowes (creator of Downton Abbey) and about a half dozen new songs added. I still think it's a bit long and bloated, with several scenes, songs, and characters that could be cut to make the runtime more child (and me) friendly than the current nearly 3 hours (which of course is no fault of Artistry, they have to work with the piece as written). But on the whole it's a heart-warming and smile-inducing show filled with moments of magic and delight for any age.

"Mary Poppins" at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Mary Poppins is a classic and beloved movie. What child growing up in this country in the last 50 years didn't grow up with the no nonsense magical nanny? The surprising thing is that this original movie musical released in 1964 wasn't adapted for the stage until 40 years later. But when it finally was, it was a success; the Broadway production ran for six years and toured the country, including a stop in Minneapolis in 2013. While it's not a perfect adaptation, the stage musical does retain the magical quality of the movie and many of the most loved moments and song. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' new production of Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical is delightful and charming with a huge and talented cast.

The familiar story we know and love from the classic movie is mostly there on stage, except, sadly, the floating to the ceiling with laughter scene and the women's suffrage subplot. Mary shows up to the Banks family in London because they need her. Father George is too busy with his important job at the bank to spend much time or thought on his children Jane and Michael, who are acting out and scaring all the nannies away, and mother Winifred doesn't know what to do to help the situation (pretty much the definition of first world problems). Enter Mary Poppins, who takes the children on fantastical outings while teaching them to be more considerate and responsible. After a crisis at the bank, George learns to appreciate his family, and with the family unit healed, Mary Poppins departs as quickly as she arrived, on to help the next family.

When I saw Mary Poppins on tour two years ago, I thought it was too long, especially for a show that will draw a lot of kids. The songs, scenes, and storylines that were added are just not as compelling as those we're familiar with from the movie. I was hoping that director Michael Brindisi would trim some of the fat, but I don't know how much freedom a regional theater has to make changes when licencing a work such as this. So I'll blame the creators of the piece for making it feel a bit bloated and draggy in parts. But it certainly doesn't overshadow the wonderful moments in the show, which are many:

Ann Michels as Mary Poppins
(photo by Heidi Bohnenkamp)

• It's not easy to step into Julie Andrews' sensible shoes in her iconic portrayal of Mary Poppins, but the Chanhassen has found just the right actor to do so. There's no practically about it, Ann Michels is perfect in every way - her voice, her posture, her attitude, her comic timing, her look, even the way she holds the umbrella. She's an absolute delight to watch in this beloved role.
• As young Jane and Michael Banks, Isabelle Erhart and Jay Soulen (who share the roles with two other actors) are adorable, very present and expressive with lovely voices who fit right in with the veteran cast.
• Fantastic dancer Mark King plays Bert, who serves as a sort of narrator of the story, often on stage observing the action as well as taking part in it. He has a sort of melancholy about him, as if he knows that Mary will soon leave.
• Seri Johnson is, as always, hilarious as the frazzled housekeeper Mrs. Brill. She and Scott Blackburn, as butler Robertson Ay, make for quite the comedy team, like a warped version of Mrs. Hughes and Carson.
• Even though the Mr. Banks at the bank story is not very interesting, Chan favorite Keith Rice is a joy to watch as he transforms from a prickly and absent father to a more devoted family man, with the help of Janet Hayes Trow's sweet and caring Mrs. Banks, who I wish had more to sing about than "Being Mrs. Banks."
• Michelle Barber only has a few short scenes on stage, but her "Feed the Birds" is a lovely and quiet moment in the busy show.

Mary, Bert, and the children
in the sky (photo by
Heidi Bohnenkamp)

• Tamara Kangas Erickson's choreography shines in a couple of group numbers. In "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," the cast spells the crazy long word in song and with their bodies, and it's a thrill as the speed increases and the precision never wavers. "Step in Time" is a tap-dancing delight, with chimney sweeps popping up as if by magic in the audience and slowly making their way onto the stage for the ever increasing energy of the number.
• The entire show has a sort of magical, dreamlike quality. The set is dominated by a large moon, with ladders climbing to the sky. Low-tech theatrical tricks create the illusions of flying and large objects coming out of Mary's bag. Hundreds of tiny lights twinkle on the ceiling in the formation of the constellations, making one want to lean one's head back and get lost in the stars (set design by Nayna Ramey, lighting design by Sue Ellen Berger).
• The Chanhassen's resident costume designer Rich Hamson (who recently had his own moment to shine on stage) has clothed the cast in a wide array of London street garb, living life-size toy costumes, and other fantastical getups.
• Last but not least, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Music Director Andrew Cooke and his always fabulous onstage band, making this (mostly) familiar music sound great.

The Chanhassen's Mary Poppins is a joyful production (even if it is a bit too long), filled with great performances and plenty of theatrical magic. Playing now through the end of August, so you have plenty of time to get out to the suburbs and experience the magic.

It's a Jolly Holiday! (photo by Heidi Bohnenkamp)

"Mary Poppins" at the Orpheum Theatre

In general, I'm not a big fan of the current trend of turning movies into musicals. But when the original source is a classic movie musical, I make an exception! The only surprise is that it took 40 years for the 1964 beloved children's classic Mary Poppins, starring the great Julie Andrews, to make it to the Broadway stage. The 2004 West End production moved to Broadway in 2006, and just closed last month. I've never seen it on Broadway because there are just too many other good choices (and I'm over 12 years old), but I was excited to see it on tour and see how this classic translates to the stage. It's been a while since I've seen the movie (again, I'm over 12 years old), but the playbill kindly notes the half dozen new songs (by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe) that have been added to the originals from the movie (by Richard and Robert Sherman), with varying degrees of success. There are a few unnecessary songs and scenes that I would cut to get all the kids in the audience (and myself) home to bed earlier, but some of the movie's best moments have been translated to the stage remarkably well. On the whole, Mary Poppins is an utterly charming stage musical that's highly entertaining, especially for the young ones. And let's face it, if "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" doesn't make you smile, it's possible you don't have a soul.

Highlights and other thoughts:

• As the title character, Madeline Trumble is indeed practically perfect in every way. She channels Julie Andrews, and has remarkable control of her voice, sometimes singing in this trill that's so very Mary Poppins. Her every move, from the top of her head to the tips of her fingers, is precise, practiced, and perfect. In any other role it might be too polished, but this is exactly how we all know Mary Poppins to be. She does Julie Andrews proud.
• Con O'Shea-Creal is a real charmer as omnipresent chimney sweep Bert. The character serves as a sort of narrator, always there in scene transitions singing "Chim Chim Cher-ee" in a mournful or light-hearted way as the scene demands. He moves with grace about the stage and has great chemistry with the children. And in one thrilling moment, he effortlessly walks up the side of the stage and across the ceiling, all with a smile.
• Speaking of the children, what adorably precocious little pros are Alexa Shae Niziak and Eli Tokash as Jane and Michael Banks! They carry several scenes by themselves, interact with the cast, sing, dance, they do it all. What a life for a kid, to travel the country and live in the world of Mary Poppins four times a week (two Janes and two Michaels travel with the show and take turns in the role).
• The sets are truly spectacular. The Banks family home at 17 Cherry Tree Lane moves forward from the back of the stage and opens like a life-size dollhouse. Later, it turns around and the back opens up to reveal the kitchen (like on Downton Abby, whose creator Julian Fellowes wrote the book, we get a glimpse into the life of the servants as well as the masters of the house). The park, the bank, and the cityscape are all equally magical with clever use of perspective on the backdrops. And yes, there's a bit of flying, which is not the sort of thing that impresses me at the theater. But you can't really do Mary Poppins without seeing her rise into the air with her umbrella.
• I'm disappointed that the women's suffrage subplot was removed, along with my favorite line from the movie: "We all like men individually, but we agree that as a group they're rather stupid." Instead we get a boring plot of Mr. Banks' troubles at work (he works at a bank, how clever), and Mrs. Banks trying to support him (one of my least favorite new songs "Being Mrs. Banks"). If I was bored by all this business of lending and making money and marriage stuff, I can't imagine what the kids thought. But of course, a lesson has to be learned, and that comes when Mr. Banks learns to stop being a jerk and pay attention to his wife and kids.
• Another needless scene is when the toys come to life and dance around, singing a song that the playbill tells me is called "Playing the Game" (that's how little I remember it). It's an addition that didn't work for me, unlike the moving and dancing statues which I found delightful.
• I could take or leave the evil nanny. I suppose it's necessary for Mr. Banks obligatory transformation but I just wanted Mary to come back. But I guess that's the point.
• A few of the new songs worked. "Cherry Tree Lane" is a great way to get through some of the exposition and tell us who the players are. "Practically Perfect" feels like it could have been in the movie as Mary Poppins gets to know the kids and they her. Every musical needs a feel good anthem, and that is "Anything Can Happen (If You Let It)." It's a great message of imagination and positivity, as is the show.
• You'll also recognize some old favorites, the haunting "Feed the Birds," the upbeat "Jolly Holiday" (with a colorful explosion), the fabulous dance number "Step In Time," and my favorite, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," set in a fantastical "talking shop." At one point Mary spells the word while Bert forms the letters with his body, and it gets faster and faster as the entire cast joins in. It's a thrill, no wonder they chose it as a post-curtain call sendoff.

Mary Poppins is not a musical I would choose to see on Broadway, but on tour, I think it's a great choice, especially if you have little ones. It's never too early to expose kids to theater, and this is a great one. Just be prepared for a late bedtime and crabby child the next day! Small price to pay for this memory (playing through this weekend only).