Mary Poppins
at Thomas S. Wootton High School

Reviewed on April 18, 2015

Lydia Gompper
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

Stand up straight and tidy your rooms, because a certain miracle-working nanny has floated into the Thomas Wootton High School theater, with all of her beloved magic and morality in tow. With a hoard of soot-covered chimney sweeps, a lost family in need of a little help, and endless bouncy, upbeat tunes, Wootton's production of "Mary Poppins" was a bright, enchantingly good time. The audience walked away tapping feet and whistling jovially to the familiar songs of their childhood.

Originating as a 1934 novel by P. L. Travers and famously meeting the Disney screen in 1964, "Mary Poppins" was transformed into a stage musical in 2004, opening on London's West End, before arriving on Broadway in 2006. It received wide critical acclaim, garnering seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. "Mary Poppins" tells the iconic tale of a savvy, mystical nanny who soars into the lives of the broken Banks family, stitching them back together with astute advice and whimsical fun.

The cast, overall, boasted strong vocals and dance abilities. The various harmonies were consistent throughout, and the lively, skilled ensemble particularly shined during the high-intensity choral numbers, such as "Jolly Holiday" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The performers impressed with their quick, dexterous choreography and tangible energy.

The titular leading role, Mary Poppins herself, was performed with commendable skill by junior Jackie Kempa, who handled demanding stage time and a difficult vocal range with seeming ease and portrayed the famed nanny with elegance and poise. Kempa showed off a solid, rich soprano during such solos as "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Practically Perfect". Many of Kempa's best moments were during her shared stage time with senior Max Fowler, who portrayed Bert. Their voices complemented each other perfectly, and they had a very sweet, "Aw!"-inducing chemistry.

Fowler himself was certainly a highlight of the performance. He was infinitely suave and charming, upholding an impressively steady cockney accent throughout. Although his singing was excellent, standing out in many solos such as "Chim Chiminey," his truly mind-blowing talent was his dancing. He seemed to glide whenever he moved throughout the production. His skill particularly stood out during the chimney sweep number, "Step in Time," in which he performed a stunning tap solo, spinning and leaping across the stage, culminating in a shocking moment when, in wired harness, he literally walked up the wall and danced on the ceiling. It was truly magnificent.

Other onstage stand-outs included Meghan Wright and Brett Cassidy as parents Winifred and George Banks, respectively, as well as Julia Fanzeres as the monstrous Miss Andrew. Both Wright and Cassidy had lovely voices - Wright's very pretty, Cassidy's proper and dignified. They both had excellent control over the many emotional levels of their characters, which were particularly strong during their scenes with each other. As the father, Cassidy began the show closed off and stern, but, with the help of his wife, children, and nanny, opened up throughout the production, while Wright's character learned to find her own strength, shaking off the meek timidity she suffered from at the beginning. Fanzeres, portraying the wicked replacement nanny who stepped in during Mary's absence, wowed with her solo number, "Brimstone and Treacle," displaying incredible vocal range and power. Although her stage time was limited, she certainly left a lasting impression.

Wootton High School's production of "Mary Poppins" was positively enchanting. Although there were a few technical weaknesses, including a faulty sound system, the performance itself was outstanding. The actors soared, both literally and figuratively, and like Mary herself, brought an element of magic to the evening.

Wilson Nathan Garcia
Mt. Vernon High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

In Thomas S. Wootton's production of "Mary Poppins", the cast and crew transformed every scene into a delightful "Jolly Holiday"!

"Mary Poppins" is based on the 1934 children's books written by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney Movie of the same name. They all feature the magical nanny, Mary Poppins, who comes in and out of the lives of the Banks family, teaching them lessons on fun and family values. Wootton's production of this magical musical, performed with minimal difficulties, brought the audience to its feet at the end of the night.

Mary Poppins, a role usually compared to Julie Andrews' performance, was played by Jackie Kempa, who absolutely brought life to the character, rather than following in Julie Andrews' footsteps. Her vocals were tremendously appealing in songs such as "Practically Perfect", "A Spoonful of Sugar", and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". As Bert, Max Fowler brought a terrific abundance of energy to the role. He performed extremely well in both cheery and somber scenes, with impeccable vocals, including his astounding upside-down belting in "Step in Time".

Winifred and George Banks, Meghan Wright and Brett Cassidy, both embodied the distant traditional parents that learned from Mary Poppins as well, as they grew closer to their children, but also to each other. Emily Ray and Jarod Glou, Mrs. Brill and Robertson Ay, were a wonderful comedic duo who added so many more comedic moments to the already funny show. As Miss Andrew, Julia Fanzeres encapsulated the "Holy Terror" of a nanny that she was meant to be. Her costuming and stylistic, almost operatic, vocals added such a delicate layer of intricacy to an already memorable character, no matter how minor the role.

Although there were some difficulties with sound, the ensemble's vocals were marvelous, and they worked well with the brilliant Mary Poppins Orchestra Pit. This combination created a beautiful elation to make the audience feel as if though it were the kite being flown high into the gorgeous sky. Speaking of gorgeous, kudos to the lighting team for their elegant use of the cyclorama to create the different moods for each scene, along with using shadows to add effect.

For everyone who grew up with the magical nanny or who meet her for the very first time, Thomas S. Wootton's production of "Mary Poppins" will surely transport you to a world where "anything can happen, if you let it".

Jack Posey
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - ARL/MC/Mont/DC

Nostalgia can be as sweet as a spoonful of sugar. From the iconic flying sequence to the lively rooftop dances with chimney sweeps, the players at Wootton High School brought a beloved classic to life with aplomb in their production of Mary Poppins.

Mary Poppins began as a 1934 children's book by P.L. Travers before being adapted into the classic 1964 film starring Julie Andrews as Mary and Dick Van Dyke as Bert. It was later adapted into a stage musical with music by the Sherman Brothers and book by Julian Fellowes, which came to Broadway in 2006. The story, narrated by the enigmatic Cockney chimney sweep Bert, opens on the dysfunctional Banks family on Cherry Tree Lane in London. With austere, business-minded father George bearing down upon discontented wife Winifred and unruly children Jane and Michael, the family appears to be on the verge of breaking down- but one day, a nanny by the name of Mary Poppins drops on their doorstep from the sky to bring them back together with the help of a little magic and a lot of love.

Jackie Kempa took on the title character with grace and skill. Her poised physicality and smooth soprano vocals gave the audience a perfect dose of the Mary Poppins magic that they needed. As her partner in crime, Bert, Max Fowler displayed a charming charisma and very strong dance abilities in numbers such as the bright and bold standout "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and the high-flying "Step in Time." Brett Cassidy maintained a consistent characterization as the stern George Banks with his rigid physicality and harsh mannerisms. Meghan Wright stood in lovely contrast to this pillar of adamancy as the gentle and forlorn Winifred Banks, utilizing her vocal prowess to convey nuanced emotion in songs such as "Being Mrs. Banks." Rounding out the family were fifth grader Adalyn Gully as Jane and third grader Marco Freelander as Michael, who brought a delightful youthful energy to the production.

Julia Fanzeres served as a foil to Mary Poppins as the witch-like replacement nanny, Miss Andrews. Her commitment to character and culminating vocal duel with Mary Poppins (featuring execution of impressive and hilarious operatic riffs and a fly-system rigging hoisting her into the heavens) made for an altogether enjoyable performance. Emily Bray's portrayal of maid Mrs. Brill was the dash of spice to Mary's spoonful of sugar- her sass and energy brought up the quality of every scene she appeared in.

One of the most outstanding aspects of this production was the magnificent orchestra. Their collective competence was evident, and their spirited playing facilitated the show's pacing by smoothing over rather lengthy scene transitions. Aiding the show's sense of magic, the flying rig utilized in several scenes was a pleasure to watch and was (thankfully) executed without any hitches. This allowed the timeless image of Mary flying over London with her umbrella to come to life, undoubtedly invoking nostalgia for anyone who had Mary Poppins as a part of their childhood, and made for an exciting sequence in Step In Time during which Bert danced on the ceiling.

The players at Wootton gave a dose of magic to the young and young at heart with their production of Mary Poppins.

Ben Beriss
Montgomery Blair High School
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

A certain house on Cherry Tree Lane is in trouble. The children in the house have turned to spoiled brats and their parents don't behave much better. Who to turn to for help? Why Mary Poppins, of course!

Thomas S. Wootton is putting on one of the first high-school performances of a modified version of the Broadway musical, Mary Poppins, an adaption of the well-known movie, which was inspired by the 1934 book by P.L. Travers. The musical became one of the longest-running performances in Broadway, famed for its technical expertise. Despite not having a Broadway budget, Wootton manages to create a stunning performance.

The show is centered on ambitious musical numbers, which it pulls off with an amount of skill rarely seen at this level. From "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," a song which requires the ensemble to be perfectly synchronized, to the truly impressive "Step in Time," in which the entire ensemble tap dances, every actor on stage displayed dancing skill and a commitment to the show. The dancing was complemented by the skillful performance of the orchestra, which played well throughout the entire musical, helping to set the tone of each scene.

The main vocalists were equally impressive. Julia Fanzere as Miss Andrew, the strict nanny who attempts to replace Mary Poppins, had several impressive moments. Meghan Wright as Winifred Banks, the children's mother, and Jackie Kempa as Mary Poppins were consistently above-average. But Max Fowler as Bert, the affable street artist/chimney sweep, has perhaps the most impressive voice on stage, managing to sing the low tones of mystical narrator and go higher than anyone else on the stage.

Not only did he go high with his voice, but he managed to physically go into the sky. The show managed to pull off flying stunts – something difficult even for many professional groups. All the moments were striking, but Bert was again the most impressive, walking up the wall and tap dancing upside-down on the ceiling.

The acting of the smaller characters was also impressive. In a show focused on the musical numbers, as this one was, it's often easy to let the less grand scenes and characters slip through the cracks, but these actors put in the effort to avoid that fate. Wright as Winifred Banks and Brett Cassidy as her husband, George Banks, managed to transform their characters from the traditional flat plot devices into emotional people and made their troubled relationship feel significant. In contrast to the depression of the parents' troubles, the servants, Emily Ray as the cook and Jarad Glou as Robertson Ay, used excellent comic timing to bring comedy and laughter into the show.

The show combines talent with technology to create musical numbers rare in productions of this level and make every character feel significant. Despite some technical difficulties in sound and set changes, the show is truly remarkable.

Gillian Wright
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Montgomery Gazette

Both Jane and Michael Banks seem to be made of mischief, snails, and puppy dog tails, exasperating governess after prospective governess with their rampant ruckus and endless antics. But when Mary Poppins arrives, she brings with her a spoonful of sugar, spice, and everything nice, or at least what she deems necessary to reveal the children's inner angels. Wootton High School's "Mary Poppins" made everyone long for nostalgic days of playing in parks and appreciate the beautiful magic in life that only children can see.

The childhood classic is based originally on the work of author P. L. Travers, who wrote a five-book series about Mary Poppins, in which Poppins is a strict nanny with enchanting abilities. In 1964, Walt Disney created a movie, which starred Julie Andrews and swept up five Academy Awards, inspired by the book series, and in 2006 Mary Poppins and the Banks family debuted on Broadway in Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman's musical "Mary Poppins." For seven years, families watched the mysterious Mary Poppins transform the Banks family, not only taming children Jane and Michael but also subtly relieving marital tensions between George and Winifred Banks, the parents, before the show closed in 2013.

The Banks family skillfully portrays a home sagging with broken relationships. George Banks (Brett Cassidy) utilizes a condescending tone and austere physicality to convey his household dominance as well as the emotional distance between himself and his children. A meek, soft-spoken personality makes Winifred Banks (Meghan Wright) effectively appear almost afraid of her husband, intimidated by her children, and generally unable to manage household affairs smoothly. Both Wright and Cassidy demonstrate impressive vocal talents which are best showcased in their successive solos, "Good for Nothing" (Cassidy) and "Being Mrs. Banks" (Wright). Jane and Michael are played by elementary school students Adalyn Gully and Marco Freelander, who bring a youthful air to the show with their delightful demeanors.

From the moment she glides on stage, Mary Poppins (Jackie Kempa) commands attention with her poise, tranquility, and ease handling the Banks family. Between her charming disposition and lovely vocals, it is clear to see why Jane and Michael see Poppins as "The Perfect Nanny." Perhaps equally essential in transforming the children is Bert (Max Fowler), a close companion of Poppins who opens the children's eyes to the magic surrounding them in the park. Fowler's prowess for both singing and dancing is apparent in his frequent musical numbers, the best of which include "Step in Time" and "Chim Chiminey." The entire cast displays commendable energy that brings songs such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" to life with vigorous movement and spirited singing.

A highlight of the show is the adept orchestra, which features equally laudable woodwind, brass, strings, and percussion sections. The music sets a lively tempo for the show and aids during transitions, which lack efficiency at times. The simple set is complemented by a thoughtfully designed lighting plot that makes use of color to accentuate characters' personalities.

"It's a jolly holiday with Mary," sings Bert, and indeed jolly seems the perfect word to encapsulate the mood of Wootton's "Mary Poppins." The upbeat music and cheery performers never fail to impress, whether they are singing, tapping, or simply interacting with each other. As Mary Poppins flies away, the audience is left empathizing with the Banks family in hoping that the practically perfect woman will stay.