Mary Poppins
at Rock Ridge High School

Reviewed on April 21, 2018

Matthew Wisdom
Riverside High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

"What did I tell ya? There's the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps." At Rock Ridge High school, step through time among the roof tops of Cherry Tree Lane in this dazzling performance of Mary Poppins The Musical! With wonder brewing at every streetlamp, statue, and starry silhouette, this company delivered a show that was a spoonful of sugar for audiences of all ages.

Making its West End debut in 2004, Mary Poppins The Musical garnered rave reviews instantly, sweeping audiences back to the nostalgia of L.P. Traveler's renowned children's novels. With these classics serving as the show's original source material, as well as its quintessential Disney adaptation in 1964, its Broadway debut two years later was in no short surprise. Following the outlandish adventures of the Banks' children, accompanied by Mary Poppins, they learn the true meanings of compassion, kindness, and above all, the importance of youth. Picking up multiple Tony Award nominations and numerous Oliver Awards, Mary Poppins The Musical has become a staple in modern musical theatre, encouraging all audiences to tag along on a jolly holiday with Mary.

Parallel to the magical elements of this show, Rock Ridge High School succeeded to the highest degree in creating an enticing Edwardian London environment. Both inside the orderly confines of the Banks' household and the mystifying rooftops above, the thought-out lighting design and mobile sets created a sense of historical accuracy and fictional fantasia onstage. With these elements reaching Broadway quality, Rock Ridge High School created a landscape that any actor would dream to perform alongside.

In unison with its talented tech, Rock Ridge Performing Arts' ensemble of characters continually shined for all the audience to see. Setting a fast paced and high energy tempo, this skilled company was on full display, especially in songs such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." Alongside an ecstatic cast, two immediate standout performances were those of Shreya Muju in the role of the elegant Mary Poppins, and of Parker Koch in the role of the stern yet sentimental George Banks. Both portrayed their characters with full respect to the original source material yet weren't afraid to incorporate their own takes to the roles in conjunction with their exceptional vocals. Muju as Mary Poppins created a fresh and intriguing dynamic where no audience member could take their eyes off her intriguing persona, alongside Koch's George Banks, where his character arc and choices were handled beautifully, balancing the perfect amount of precision and order with sentiment and compassion.

All told, Rock Ridge High School's production of Mary Poppins the Musical burst with energy, kindness, and a crucial message on the importance of youth in the face of adult-hood. With an all-around jubilation of a company, commitment to character, masterful technological elements, and the all-around entertainment displayed can only be described as supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Autumn Anderson
Riverside High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Rock Ridge's production of Mary Poppins brought the audience to 17 Cherry Tree Lane to experience a show that is practically perfect in every way. This production featured consistent energy from the cast and a stage that allowed the characters to shine and an audience to be enveloped into a new world of adventure, dreams, and fun.

Over the rooftops of London, Mary Poppins is a seemingly magical nanny that helps shape the lives of the dysfunctional Banks family through the course of the musical. The plot of the musical differs from the well-known movie, featuring Mary Poppin's statue friends, creepy toys that come to life, and a rival, evil nanny named Miss Andrews. The production came onto Broadway in 2006, and was nominated for 7 Tony's, winning for ‘Best Scenic Design'.

Rock Ridge's production featured consistent energy from everyone in the cast, including the ensemble – something aloof in high school theatre. The cast poured everything into high-energy, classic numbers like, "Jolly Holiday", "Steppin' Time", and "Anything Can Happen". With in-depth characters set on stage that looks ready for Broadway, this production out-did itself in its attention to detail.

Mary Poppins made sure to tell you from the beginning that she's ‘practically perfect in every way' and there is no argument to that. Shreya Muju showcased strong vocals, a consistent accent, and great character throughout the show. Perhaps the most dynamic character of the show, Mr. Banks (Parker Koch) also brought strong character and singing. Koch nailed it from the moment he began ‘Cherry Tree Lane' and brought his character's arc to life.

Many other actors also added a spoonful of sugar to the performance. Bert (Collin Kilfeather) brought a high-energy, easy-going performance that could only be described as ‘Bert'. Mrs. Banks (Jordan Green) brought an authentic take to her character and had realistic stage chemistry with Mr. Banks throughout their relationship. Robinson Ay (Farley McDaniel) stole the show on some occasions with his hilarious antics in the Banks' household.

Before the actors even step foot on stage, the spectacular set that Rock Ridge has created catches the eye, featuring the rooftops of London and a doll-house-like set for Cherry Tree Lane. It was nearly professional for a high school production, and a few words of appreciation must be given to the running crew for their smooth transitions with such a monster of a set. Another eye-catching aspect of the show was the lighting, featuring dynamic and almost cinematic changes and colors throughout the production. If not another bit of evidence to Rock Ridge's eye for detail, there was an incredible amount of time-period accuracy with the Londoner's costumes, and later with the creative Magician's costumes. All in all, the tech took this production to a whole new level.

Mary Poppins is a classic for many reasons, all featured in the latest performance from Rock Ridge. With strong, high-energy acting, a Broadway-quality set, and incredible attention to the fine details, Rock Ridge has outdone itself. There's only one word to describe this production and that is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Megan Horgan
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

It was once said that, "anything can happen if you let it." Rock Ridge High School's production of Mary Poppins truly let some magic happen. With a strong ensemble, alluring voices, and spectacular technical aspects and special effects, it was easy for the audience to believe they were having a jolly holiday in London with Mary.

When Mary arrives at Cherry Tree Lane to become the nanny of Jane and Michael, the Banks family doesn't expect anything unusual, but soon her practically perfect persona begins to alter their lives. Mary Poppins didn't fly directly to the stage. From 1934-1988 Mary's story was published as a series of children's books, written by P. L. Travers. In 1964, Disney released the film version of Mary Poppins and in 2006 came her Broadway premiere.

The success of this show wouldn't have been possible without the consistently beautiful, strong vocals of the entire cast. Shreya Muju (Mary Poppins) and Jordan Green (Winifred Banks) were two female vocals that stood out throughout the production, as well as their unfaltering commitment to character. Crystal Claros (Miss Andrew) was another dynamic voice that blew the audience away. Her voice dominated the space, as did her presence on stage. Claros' character choices created a truly nasty, hateful lady who lives up to the nickname "The Holy Terror" and made her short stage time one of the most memorable moments of the show. Parker Koch (George Banks) was another powerful presence on stage and awed the audience with his potent, smooth voice. Koch displayed a true understanding of his character, and showed a clear, powerful character arc as he learned the value of his family. Collin Kilfeather (Bert) was thoroughly enjoyable to watch and his easy-going charasma allowed the audience to effortlessly love him. Kilfeather's movements were sharp and precise, making Bert a dynamic character in a sea of chimney sweeps.

Farley McDaniel (Robertson Ay) displayed nonstop commitment to the moment at hand and delivered memorable laughs; nearly every line he had conjured up laughter in the audience. The same is true of Noam Denenberg (Neleus). Denenberg's movements were fluid (when he wasn't frozen as a statue) and his energy and friendliness brought smiles to the audience.

These strong characters, as with the rest of the ensemble, were essential to the magic that was created, but credit must also be given to the tech, which brought the audience straight into London. The miniscule details of Ryan Nguyen's set design told a story from every layer of the stage. Even the set transitions aided to the story telling. They were smooth and effective, and it was apparent that as an ensemble they were able to find balance when a lengthier set change was taking place by having action elsewhere on the stage. Alexa Janoschka created magical stage pictures with her lighting design within each scene of the production. Beautiful blues and purples lit the center of the stage, bringing a magical, fantastical feel to songs such as "Steppin' Time" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

Mary Poppins is packed with opportunities to fill the stage with magic, and Rock Ridge High School fulfilled it through every technical, and dramatic, aspect of the show. It was apparent that Rock Ridge Performing Arts had a goal to achieve. As a cohesive ensemble, they reached for the heavens, and got the stars thrown in.

Sydney Fisher
Washington-Lee High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

It is often hard to face the realities of life, but in Rock Ridge High School's excellent production of "Mary Poppins", you don't have to. Filled with singing, dancing, and magic, this show executed their performance and technical elements with professionalism and grace. "Mary Poppins" was originally published as a children's book in 1934, made into a Disney movie in 1964, and then transposed into a musical in 2004. However, this classic story has remained a favorite throughout generations. Rock Ridge High School took this beloved story and did it justice.

The most important part of a cohesive show is a cast that demonstrates chemistry and stage presence. The dynamic performances of Jordan Green as Mrs. Banks and Parker Koch as Mr. Banks showed the depth of their relationship as parents and their backgrounds as people. Mary Poppins (Shreya Muju) was comfortable and elegant onstage as she led large group numbers such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Jolly Holiday". Even in smaller solo numbers such as "Spoonful of Sugar", both her dancing and vocals remained strong. Collin Kilfeather as Bert sustained a vibrant personality and accent throughout the show, keeping the audience entertained from beginning to end. Featured roles such as Park Keeper (Andrew Otchere) stood out and left the audience laughing with his physical humor. Every character owned the stage, and the ensemble shined while not stealing attention from the lead actors. This show had a cast that worked together cohesively onstage and resulted in a wonderful show.

This performance was highlighted with a variety of tech aspects that stole the show. Professional looking lights illuminated the stage in greens, pinks, purples, and blues. Enormous detailed sets stunned the audience as "17 Cherry Tree Lane" opened into a three-piece, two story home. Another great technical feat was creating a dresser for Mary Poppins to pull a variety of props out of her bag, including a coat rack, a mirror, and a painting. The set designers were great at creating a specific mood or ambiance for different scenes. For example, during calming night scenes on the roof, the dark sky was sprinkled with lit stars. This backdrop added to the setting and made the stage look like a beautiful night sky as Mary Poppins floated away. From the realistic sound effects to props, no detail went unnoticed. Mrs. Banks, a former actress, was reading a play during her scenes. Dog, bird, and thunderstorm sounds rang out loud and clear onstage. Even the costumes were cohesive and time period appropriate. All of the tech aspects for this show went above and beyond, especially for a high school production.

Among the acting, singing, and technical elements of this show, Rock Ridge High School did a brilliant job in "Mary Poppins". One could even say that this production was "Practically Perfect" in every way.

Hannah Rosman
Washington-Lee High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

Magic was in the air at Rock Ridge High School's production of Mary Poppins. Before even getting to their seats, the audience was greeted by an entrance way filled with glowing umbrellas. Once inside the theatre, a proscenium lined with an upside down cityscape and a curtain with impressive projections set the mood. The technical artistry only became more apparent throughout the show, brilliantly complimenting the performances.

Mary Poppins, the story of a nanny who changes a family's lives, debuted on Broadway in 2006 with music and lyrics by the Sherman Brothers, and a script by Julian Fellowes. The musical is a fusion of the books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film. Running about three hours with several high intensity dance numbers and intense technical elements it is quite an undertaking for a high school theatre department, but this group of students were certainly up to the task.

The show sparkled with magic from the first note of the overture, but Shreya Muju's appearance as Mary Poppins about 10 minutes in changed the whole dynamic of the show. She took a well-known and often replicated character and made it her own. By the time the song "Jolly Holiday" began and the bland park was transformed into a magical land where statues come alive and dance, it was impossible not to be in love with this stern, but playful nanny. Her chemistry with Collin Kilfeather who played Bert, and with Jane and Michael, both of whom were played quite impressively by elementary school children, was very realistic and loving.

With almost 100 students in the cast, this show was perfect for the amount of supporting roles it allows. Crystal Claros wowed in her cameo at the beginning of act two as Miss Andrew. Ryyana Cunningham sparkled as Mrs. Corry of the fantastic "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Noam Denenberg was a wonderful presence as the statue come to life, Neleus. Best of all though, was the pairing of Parker Koch and Jordan Green as Mr. and Mrs. Banks. They both acted the parts of parents wonderfully considering their age, and handily portrayed the development of their characters.

Not to be outdone, the tech was perhaps the most magical element. Between the creative costumes, complex and cinematic lighting, elaborate hair and makeup, dynamic set, and unbelievable special effects (including flying several characters), this production was truly a technical marvel. Not to mention the impressive student choreography, dialect coaching, and very talented pit orchestra. Considering the high caliber of almost all the tech, the one failing of the sound was disappointing, but this was one of the rare high school productions that really was almost completely student run, and it was wonderful.