BWW Reviews: MARY POPPINS: More Than a Musical

MARY POPPINS, the Disney and Cameron MacIntosh musical based on the writings of P.L. Travers, opens tonight at the Rose in Omaha. If you've recently watched "Saving Mr. Banks," you may be twice as curious about Mary Poppins and the Banks family. What's true? Who's real? Well, it's hard to tell, because MARY POPPINS is brimming with more than brimstone and treacle. It's filled with magic and wise sayings and heart.

Under the direction of Matthew Gutschick, MARY POPPINS delights both children and the adults. Along with great voices, there are mysterious happenings...pieces of an advertisement for a nanny written by the irrepressible Banks children, Michael (Aidan Schmidke) and Jane (Morgan Ryan), float up to the ceiling after being ripped apart by harried father, Mr. Banks (Joseph Dignoti). Mary Poppins (Leanne Hill Carlson) floats in with her umbrella to fill the vacant nanny position. Wicked former nanny Miss Andrews (Jodi Vaccaro) leaves in a huff, so to speak. Statues and toys come to life. And the biggest mystery of all, Mary Poppins changes the rebellious children and their heartless banker father.

Patrick Beasley (Bert) rides in on a relic of a bicycle, singing with a charming, pleasing lilt. His British accent is believable. A bit less believable, however, is the thought that he could be a grimy chimney sweep. My 12-year old companion told me that Patrick was her favorite, so he's a most likely a hit with the young ladies.

Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way, according to her own description. Leanne Hill Carlson is also practically perfect with her lovely soprano vocals and appearance. She definitely has been ingesting spoons full of sugar, because she is sweet, even when contesting with the evil Miss Andrews with the stratospheric high notes, Jodi Vaccaro.

Mr. Banks, a tortured man scarred from his childhood, is ably enacted by Joseph Dignoti. Joe is good, even at being a bad parent and husband. You can count on Joe to consistently offer up great vocals. And to continue with the banker puns, he'll keep your interest up!

Neleus (Aaron Ellis) a statue in the park, springs to life and displays his swirling bronze costume to advantage with his nimble movements. Mrs. Corry (Tracy Hoye), the oldest person alive, looks youthful, but is supercalifragilistic, in her black and white gown (costumes by Sherri Geerdes.) Mrs. Brill (Marguerite Bennett) could have walked off the set of a popular British TV series about servants. Her not-quite-able sidekick (Mike Palmreuter) offers up laughs as he bumbles about the kitchen.

Musical Director Kevin Smith leads a 12-piece orchestra in some of the most memorable songs in musical theater. Being preview night, there were some minor issues, although the woodwinds sounded great.

Favorite moments of the evening? Mrs. Banks' (Maggie Mitchell) heartfelt rendition of "Being Mrs. Banks" is emotional and real. Her vocals are impressive: strong and soulful. The exhilarating "Step in Time" tap dancing number (choreography by Sue Gillespie Booton) is highlighted beautifully by set designer Adam Rowe's lit up city skyline. "Playing the Game" haunts me with its music box flavored tune and the idea that toys are real. "Brimstone and Treacle" builds to a powerful climax with a clashing duet between Leanne and Jodi.

Things you can learn from MARY POPPINS? The true value of money is in how you spend it. A good man is much more rare and valuable than a good idea. A child who loses his temper loses everything else in the end. And the best? If you reach for the stars, all you'll get is the stars. But if you reach for the heavens, you'll get the stars thrown in.

A good expenditure of your money would be to buy a ticket to MARY POPPINS. You could get some surprises thrown in.

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