“Mary Poppins” is a Sweet Treat!
- December 13th 2024
- Arts & Entertainment
Cast members L-R Cat Mathews as Mary Poppins, Hunter Roberts as Bert, Irie Mastrella as Michael Banks and Bryn Rice as Jane Banks
Credit: Emily Sheffield
By Kristi King
Like a spoonful of sugar, the Nasson Little Theatre’s current production of “Mary Poppins” is a sweet treat you can enjoy too, with shows running through December 15. Based on the 1964 live action musical film produced by Disney, this musical, expertly directed by George Perkins, brings to life the story of how a new nanny improves the lives of the Banks family honoring the live-action aspect of the movie.
All the actors playing the main roles portray their characters with visual and auditory brilliance. This is especially true of the leads. Hunter Roberts playing chimney sweep Bert narrates the story with a soothing tone introducing the stern father George Banks (Jon C. Halbur), the worried mother Winifred Banks (Kaitlyn Hubert) along with their children the pertinent daughter Jane (Bryn Rice) and the comical son Michael Banks (Irie Mastrella). Turns out Bert knows all about the new nanny, Mary Poppins played by the effervescent Cat Mathews flying in with her stage-filling voice.
You may be familiar with the story, but you have to see how this amazing cast under music director Joanna Hamblin and choreographer Emma Stevens create a musical and visual treat. Every vocal turn from the cast is a delight to the ears. The highly clever and unique dance sequences using props and scenescapes bought joy and imagination to all of the whole cast dance numbers, including the jovial rooftop sweepers and the dazzling “spelling intricacies” of the popular song, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!”
Highlighted scenes included the park with the bird woman (Indigo Raizel), the exacerbated park keeper (Kira Hardingham) and expressive statue (Anberlyn Hubert), and the children’s nursey with large toys that come alive. This entertaining cast included chimney sweeps, park strollers, kite flyers, customers, and bank clerks that added to the fun.
The long-standing pit orchestra was obviously enjoying the score as flutist Sarah Rex giggled while recreating a “talking bird” interaction. Filled with classic songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” along with laugh-out-loud humor expertly supported by Technical Director David Parent, this play’s humor brightened the topics of empathy and compassion being highlighted by the story.
Light, sound, stage crew, along with costumes and make-up are top-notch and bring this delectable visual “animation” to life behind the welcoming performance of lead Cat Mathews, who earned an impromptu heartfelt audience applause when she made her return visit back to the Banks household – demonstrating that this Mary Poppins is especially sweet!
