BWW Interviews: Talking with MARY POPPINS' Nicholas Dromard

Mary Poppins flew into Toronto in early November, having her official opening night at The Princess of Wales Theatre. The show marks the first collaboration between Disney and Cameron Mackintosh. The show has received critical raves since opening on both Broadway and London's West End, and Mirvish Productions brings it to Toronto this winter for a limited nine week run.

Mary Poppins has four productions currently running on three continents and is one of the biggest stage musical successes in recent years. It has all the songs you know and love from the classic Julie Andrews film, plus takes material from the beloved Pamela Travers books to further flesh out the story of the "practically perfect" nanny and her relationship with the Banks family.

BWW is thrilled to be covering the production's Toronto run, including interviews with the cast and fun photo coverage of them as they enjoy all that Toronto has to offer (including of course, Tim Hortons and the Maple Leafs). Today we speak to Nicholas Dromard, who plays ‘Bert'

Welcome back to Toronto! How excited are you to return to the city?

So excited! I'm jumping off the ceilings...and tapping off them! It's really great to be back.

And where are you originally from?

Ottawa.

So how did you become involved in this business growing up in Ottawa?

Well, I started tapping when I was six years old and then joined the school choir and did some community theatre. That's where it all really started. When I was eighteen and graduated from high school I was supposed o go to the University of Ottawa for music but I went to NYC for a dance competition final instead. I actually got offered both the Radio City Spectacular and Florida Disney! What can I say, I was an eighteen year old boy. The Rockettes won out. The opportunity to be with twenty gorgeous women dancing put the University of Ottawa on the back-burner.

Then I came back to Toronto and got the Stratford Festival where I was in West Side Story, and following that I did Mamma Mia. I was fortunate enough to get to tour with that show and eventually found myself back in NYC for an audition and landed that role too! It's been an incredible journey so far.

So when you think of all the actors who are really struggling to find work and sometimes getting into massive amounts of debt just to have a shot at something in NYC, do you consider yourself lucky or do you know it's because you worked your butt off?

Well, I definitely did work my butt off but I've also been very fortunate and very lucky. To be on tour playing the lead role in a production like this is incredible. And to have been consistently employed for the last ten years is also something I feel very grateful for. I count my lucky stars each night.

How much do you feel the audience reaction affects your performance on any given night?

I would love to say that it doesn't but the truth is that it really has a huge effect on us. If the audience is laughing and energetic it fuels us to give even more. Sometimes when they are really reserved and quiet we just don't get the same energy. We love it when they are loud and cheering, applauding and enjoying the show with us. That really makes us soar.

Rachel (Wallace) was talking to us about the differences between performing somewhere like Texas and then going right to a city like Chicago...

Exactly. Those cities were like night and day. The audience reaction was totally different. So it will be great to see what Toronto audiences are like.

So you will be spending Christmas in Toronto - will you be helping your American counterparts decide what ‘must-see' things they should put on their list while they are here? What's on your list?

Well, I haven't been here in six years so there's a lot of things I don't really know! I guess definitely go skating in Nathan Phillips Square and go check out the CN Tower...

Do you think you guys would be allowed to do the EdgeWalk?

Like walk outside the tower? I didn't even know you could do that! Wow! That would be so much fun...how about a publicity stunt where I put on my tap shoes and tap on the outside of the Tower. Think we can make that happen?

What are you most looking forward to about returning home to Canada for the holiday season?

Just getting to be so close to home for the holidays. Plus Toronto is magic at Christmas, very much like New York City. It's beautiful and I have a lot of friends here.

We also spoke to Rachel about Cameron Mackintosh and his involvement in this production. Having been with the show longer, have you had a chance to see him come out and see the show?

Yes! The last time I saw him was the last time he visited us in NYC, and he's been pretty busy with the Les Miserables film so he hasn't seen the touring production yet. I have heard he may come to Toronto to see us which would be great. He always has creative input. He's a very involved producer and does more than just give money to the production. He's always talking to people and giving notes and making sure he's involved.

Quick Twitter question for you...is it REALLY ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'?

Yes. Yes it is.

And finally, for die-hard fans of the film who might be sitting on the fence about trying out this production, what would you say to encourage them to come and see it?

It's not like the movie. In this production you get your favourite parts of the movie but with new songs and new character arcs that are brought in from the books. You'll get something more and a whole new experience seeing it live. So you have to come.

Also, a lot of people think the show is just for kids, or dated, or for women. But it's not, it's for everyone. It addresses all generations and speaks to everyone. It's at timeless story about a father trying to reconnect with his family and his kids and save his job in a difficult time. Everyone can relate to that. So put your pre-conceived notions aside and come and see the show. Its pure joy and you will love it.

When and Where?
Mary Poppins

The Princess of Wales Theatre

Now on Stage through to Jan 8th 2012

Performance Schedule:
Tue- Sat 7:30PM
Wed, Sat & Sun 2PM

No performances: Dec 24, 7.30PM; Dec 25, 2PM Added performance on Thu Dec 22, 2PM

Tickets run from $49.50 to $185 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416-872-1212 or online at www.mirvish.com/marypoppins

Photo by Racheal McCaig Photography

 

 

 

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