The classic heartwarming tale of Mary Poppins was reimagined on stage at the Brewster High School Performing Arts Center—and it was everything we could have dreamed of plus more. I personally believe Mary Poppins was one of the best productions BHS has put on in years, which is quite the feat considering their esteemed Shrek: The Musical, Once Upon a Mattress, and Peter Pan. But the dynamism of the theater crew was incredibly powerful as they flew through the three hour show, leaving every ounce of emotion and mental perseverance onstage. This musical was a must-see, and I’ve heard nothing but outstanding reviews, proving that yet again, Brewster theater remains a force to be reckoned with.
The story takes place in early 1900s United Kingdom, where the wealthy Banks family is disheveled by financial issues, lack of family connection, and the need for a new nanny to take care of the kids. Enter the lovely Mary Poppins (Megan Campbell), a “practically perfect” nanny who teaches the kids to express themselves, use their imaginations, and be considerate, kind, and positive—all through the use of pleasantly catchy songs like “Spoonful of Sugar,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” and “Playing the Game.” Jane and Michael Banks (Brooke Ryan and Nico Corrado) start off as whiny rascals but learn to be appreciative and compassionate after they spend time with Mary Poppins, who eventually leaves when she sees they can handle on their own. Parents George and Winifred Banks (Aaron Lurin and Erin Vaughan) struggle in their own ways: Winifred wants to feel loved and appreciated, while George wants to prove his success through wealth. In the end, they both reconnect and stitch the family back together again, finding happiness in the small but significant things (the kite, for example). Of course, we can’t forget the charming Bert (RJ Frankenberry), a crowd favorite who radiates fun and friendship in everything he does. Him and Mary Poppins inspire the family, with his goofy smile and her poised grace, capturing the audience’s hearts from start to finish. For much of Mary Poppins, our jaws were dropped in pure awe. To that, Mary Poppins herself would say, “Close your mouth. We are not a codfish!”
Each character proves to be essential to the effectiveness of this production: the paranoid Mrs. Brill (Sarah Borsari), clumsy Robertson Ay (Ryan Hecht), maleficent Miss Andrew (Taylor Byrne), graceful Neleus (Tommy Froessel), amongst many more. There were numerous heartfelt performances in this musical, such as Feed the Birds (sung by Martina Rossi and Megan Campbell), Being Mrs. Banks (Erin Vaughan), and Let’s Go Fly a Kite. There were phenomenal moments that brought happy tears to my eyes: the unbelievably impeccable performance of Step in Time, featuring a huge ensemble of chimney sweep dancers, and of course, the memorable Bert, who literally defies gravity and physics in his remarkable march around the frame of the stage. There is no doubt, RJ Frankenberry’s ability to stay in character, sing, and walk upside down, will go down in Brewster theater history.
Every single person was crucial in this musical. The cast made for magnificent dynamic to the show, however, the people working behind the scenes deserve huge recognition for their resilience and hard work: We must thank the stage crew for putting everything together cohesively, the leadership of the production staff for making this show possible (plus the lively, energetic choreography of the whole cast), the run crew, who added aesthetic and magic to the show, and the pit orchestra for their lively music and touching sentimentality of each musical number. Not to mention, we appreciate the artistic display outside the PAC, which added a decorative element to the magic of Mary Poppins.
I praise everyone involved in this show, but I must give an enormous applause to the two lead roles of Mary Poppins for their seemingly flawless performances. I praise Megan Campbell and RJ Frankenberry, as Mary Poppins and Bert, for their ability to take me back to my childhood when I used to watch Mary Poppins on VCR. Hands down, Megan Campbell was somehow a better Mary Poppins than Mary Poppins herself (which doesn’t make sense at first, but if you think about it, she embodied the character more than anyone intended). Her upscaled British articulation was consistent and lavish. RJ himself measured up to (a much younger) Dick Van Dyke performance of Bert, with his bounce, silliness, talent, and spot-on accent. Our hearts fluttered when we saw Mary Poppins descend from the sky, umbrella in hand. We held our breaths when Bert and his chimney sweep posse danced to Step in Time. We shed a nostalgic tear when we heard Bert and Mary Poppins harmonize to Chim Chimney (or at least, I did). I praise the talented folks who made me feel like a kid again, back when our imaginations were our prized possession; when singing and dancing solved all problems; when joyful happy endings happened more than unexpected plot twists.
But overall, everyone did an outstanding job, and each person deserves credit for his/her contribution to this musical. Director Stephanie Rubino should be so proud for what her theater team has accomplished this year. She says in the program that Mary Poppins teaches important lessons: “Strive to be ‘practically perfect,’” “Find the joy and use your imagination,” “Learn how to express yourself,” and “It’s OK to move on.”
Photos by Dawn Rossi