‘Mary Poppins’ Continues to Delight at Sundown Playhouse
“Practically perfect in every way.” When the audience hears that, we know exactly who that means: the wise, magical nanny who flies in on an umbrella and meets the hearts of everyone she meets.
It is also an accurate description of the excellent production that is now enchanting audiences at the Sunset Playhouse. And just in case you think you are too big for your bitches to see Mary Poppins, think again. There were many “big kids” in the audience without the little ones in tow. And they are all the smarter – and delighted – for it.
Director Nate C. Adams did an incredible job with the talented, multi-faceted 36-person cast, taking the latest Broadway musical adaptation and making it work wonderfully in the Sunset room, and doing some engineering marvels in the meantime. Mary Poppins flies! And very well, based on the screams of joy from all the children at the last Sunday matinee.
We all know the story of Mary and those villainous Banks kids, Jane and Michael, their stern, aloof father George, their worried mother Winifred, and the wonderful mix of characters like Bert the chimney sweep. The latest adaptation includes some new songs and characters, as well as many familiar tunes from the popular classic Julie Andrews / Dick Van Dyke. There’s Miss Andrew, George Banks’ nanny, who ends up terrorizing the family. Mary comes back to the rescue.
There are so many good performances and dance numbers during the performance that it’s a challenge to list them all here. But Brianna Rose Lipor recreates Mary Poppins beautifully, from her soaring chant to her detailed recreation of the Mary we know and love. It’s a pleasure to watch Eric Welsh from start to finish when he and Bert show a lot of the fancy footwork of choreographer Ashley Patin, especially in the chimney sweep dance-off “Step In Time”. Brant Allen (Mr. Banks), Carrie A. Gray (Mrs. Banks) Ella Rose Kleefisch (Jane) and Casey Westphal (Michael) impress both individually and as a family unit, which requires intervention from Mary Poppins.
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One of the additional numbers on the show sums up the fun of seeing this Mary Poppins production. “Anything can happen” and it does, especially when the very special nanny flies in. Then the real fun begins.
Until November 4th at the Sunset Playhouse, 790 Wall Street, Elm Grove. For tickets, call 262-782-4430 or visit www.SunsetPlayhouse.com
