Mary Poppins
at Independence High School

Reviewed on May 6, 2022

Sylvia Rahim
Alexandria City High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The feeling one gets from having "a spoonful of sugar" explains the immense pick-me-up that is given when viewing Independence High School's first official spring musical production "Mary Poppins".

"Mary Poppins" tells the story of the Banks, a London family with two rambunctious children, Jane and Michael. They seem to drive every nanny away, but wish for one who is fun and exciting. Suddenly, an eccentric lady named Mary Poppins turns the Banks' household upside down and fulfills the role of their nanny.

Katie Phillips as Mary Poppins was "practically perfect in every way," with Broadway-level vocals and amazing characterization. Phillips embodied the role of Mary Poppins, keeping the audience immersed in the magical ambiance of the show. With every song Phillips was in, whether as the lead or ensemble, Phillips carried it with poise and precision, with every note hit flawlessly.

While Mary Poppins incontestably dominated the show, it was only strengthened by the impressive performances given by its supporting cast. The dynamic duo of Jane and Michael, played by Allison Clark and Hailey Suh, had great brother and sister chemistry throughout the show and strong, consistent vocals to match. To finish up the Banks family was Mr. and Mrs. Banks, portrayed by Max Layman and Jenna Moser. Both had spectacular vocals showcased through solos like "Good for Nothing" and "Being Mrs. Banks (Reprise)," and were able to depict their characters with complexities, such as Mr. Banks having the exterior of seriousness whilst having slight child-like qualities shown through Layman's great sense of comedic timing. The family blended well together and had great stage chemistry.

The multiple ensemble casts throughout the show blew the audience away with the way they executed intricate choreography. Many doubled as running crew as well. They filled the stage with presence and energy, and the bigger numbers like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Step in Time" let ensemble members showcase their talents to the highest degree.

The multiple moving parts of this production should not go unsaid, specifically, the student-built sets done by Bella Purucker, Zach Khan, Allie Harris, and Addi Cope. With every new scene, there was a new set to go along with it, and the transition from one set to another was practically perfect. It can be very easy for a show with as many sets as this one to have become chaotic, but every transition was smooth and seamless with little to no distractions. The lighting, done by Gavin Greygor, Jacob Foggi, and Connor Gosman, illuminated the show in every way, making each individual scene pop with such bright colors. This was ultimately all possible due to the incredible stage management team of Julie Simanski, Mckenna Riolo, Sayje Jaffe, and Hannah Macmillan, who had to keep the show organized, and cue for lights, sound, and movements of sets to keep them on time and harmonious.

For a school's first on-stage musical production, they have met and even exceeded expectations. Independence High School's production of "Mary Poppins" can only be described as one extremely long word: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" Audiences should be truly excited to see what this high school will put out next!

Eleanor (Ela) Green
Quince Orchard High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Independence High School proved to us that anything can happen if you let it with their production of Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins was originally a novel in a series of children's books written by P.L. Travers in 1934. It tells the story of a family in England whose rowdy children have gone through nanny after nanny, when Mary Poppins, a practically perfect magical woman, appears to help them. Independence High School took this story to a new level with incredible special effects, talented actors, and a captivating story.

Katie Phillips was born to play the role of Mary Poppins. Her crystal-clear vocal tones and the proper air she had about her transported the audience into a different time and place and drew them into the story. Max Layman as George Banks exhibited an incredible depth of character and versatility. He conveyed many sides to his character, showing a strict and emotionally distant father while revealing the trauma of his own childhood later in the show. Jenna Moser as Winifred Banks demonstrated excellent character development, clearly shifting her character over the course of the show from a woman attempting to fulfill the role of a traditional housewife to a woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself and her family. As an ensemble, the Banks family had dazzling harmonies that highlighted the excellent group dynamic that made them feel like a family unit.

During "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," the entire ensemble of Mary Poppins brought a new level of energy onto the stage with dazzling lighting and synchronized dancing, complete with a different motion for every letter of the incredibly long word. The running crew also moved the many large and complex set pieces at an unbelievable speed, demonstrating how important efficiency and skill are behind the scenes as well as on the stage.

Independence High School also had fantastic special effects (led by Siri Bommini and Paul Hartmann), such as a kite suspended over the audience and an actor popping out of a very small dollhouse. A fly system was used several times which allowed actors to float across the stage. All of these special effects added a sense of magic to the production and amazed the audience.

Overall, Independence High School's production of Mary Poppins created a sense of awe and wonder in the audience through the magic the company created on stage.

Kiran Pippin-Mathur
Alexandria City High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

The only word to describe Independence High School's production of Mary Poppins is supercalifragilisticexialidocious! A precious ode to both the beloved Disney movie and Independence High's first main-stage musical, love and hope radiated from the stage and into the viewer's heart.

This production immersed the audience into Mary Poppins' magical world with the use of technology. Numerous impressive sets were cycled out for each scene change, directly corresponding to the scene changes in the movie. Not only that, but the clever use of a cyc wall (in this context, a screen stretched at the back of a stage), enhanced every tone or mood that was represented by the actors or the music. While cyc walls can sometimes be distracting, their use in this show allowed for some rather beautiful effects of stars or even the gradient of the sky when it was supposed to be sunny. More than that, there was extremely impressive (and mysterious) prop work: a doll came to life, popping out of a seemingly toy-sized dollhouse to perform a musical number; an extended coat rack produced from Mary Poppin's magical bag; and even the simple touch of having the characters pick up the exact letters they needed for "Supercalifragilisticexialidocius." And for Mary Poppins' departures and entrances, she flew in the sky across the stage with her umbrella, to the delight of the crowd. All of these elements served to keep the audience enveloped in the childlike magical feel that Mary Poppins conjured for Michael and Jane's family.

Of course, what would be a performance without the actors? It was made clear in this show that every single actor, from main leads, to ensemble, to side characters, was given proper care and put their all into this show. This was shown in the well-fitted garments each character donned. Mary Poppins' clothes were, of course, absolutely beautiful, but each actor had multiple clothing changes, each one showcasing their characterization. Truly a beautiful thing to see in a high school production.

Each member of the family was stunning in their performance, with some special mentions to the mother, Jenna Moser (Winifred Banks), whose continued stage presence bounced off every character she encountered and was able to hold her character for the entire run. Similarly, the father, Max Layman (George Banks) maintained physicality in his acting and had a continued use of physical comedy. The parents had spectacular chemistry with one another and paired together with the siblings and their character arcs they painted the picture of a beautiful family.

Last, but not certainly never least, was Mary Poppins herself. As Mary Poppins, Katie Phillips was simply just the character. No longer a high schooler, Katie's absolutely beautiful voice rang out in the theatre, matching exactly to Mary Poppins. All the mannerisms, the lines, the accent were at the core Mary Poppins herself. A shining beacon in each scene, if the playbill stated Mary Poppins herself traveled out of the screen to star in this performance, there wouldn't be one doubt.

It was clear to see that Independence High School, crew and performers, put so much love and hard work into this production, and it shined from the stage. There were no spoonfuls of sugar needed to watch this musical, they already had jars full of talent.

Frances (Franny) Stec
Osbourn Park High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

There is only one word that is able to describe Independence High School's first-ever spring musical: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

Mary Poppins has been adapted from a book, into a movie, and into a musical. The musical originally ran on the West End from September 2004 to January 2008, and after the success of the run, opened on Broadway in November 2006 and ran until March 2013. The musical takes inspiration from both the book and the movie, including well-known songs from the movie.

Katie Phillips as Mary Poppins did justice to the iconic songs "Spoonful of Sugar" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" through her beautiful singing voice. She never missed a beat in any of her songs, and her facial expressions while singing and acting were perfect, never breaking character once. A highlight of the production was when she floated through the air no less than four times on her umbrella. Her singing was by far the pinnacle of the show, receiving huge amounts of applause from the audience after every song. She also had amazing chemistry with everyone she worked with, especially Bert (Paul Hartmann).

Another standout performance came from Miss Andrew (Samantha Scott). Though she didn't have as much time onstage as some of the other actors, she delivered a hilarious performance and created a character the audience loved to hate. She was funny in a different way as the dynamic duo of the show, Mrs. Brill (Katie Nail) and Robertson Ay (Chase Danzenbaker). The two of them stood out as a comedic duo that the audience loved to watch. They were wonderful on their own, but when they were together no one could take their eyes off of them. Both of them were great comedic actors with great singing voices.

The standout tech element of the show was the lighting. Designed by Jacob Foggi, Gavin Greygor, and Connor Gosman, the lighting was always noticeable. From the backdrop constantly changing colors to the eerie greens and yellows of the house when Miss Andrew (Samantha Scott) made her appearance, the lighting added to the whole feel of the show. Any time the lights changed, the audience was captivated.

Independence High School's production of Mary Poppins was truly a magical experience. They showed off a strong ensemble during group numbers, and a solid lead cast that truly led to a great audience experience.

Jack Wolff
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

In Mary Poppins' world everything is a cause for joy and games, and for Independence that includes their show as well. With a spoonful of sweet songs and dance, Independence delivered a performance of Mary Poppins sure to bring joy to those around to watch.

Adapted from the movie and book of the same name, Mary Poppins, written by Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman, follows the Banks family, a chaotic family cycling through nannies without success. This is, until Mary Poppins arrives, teaching the children about kindness and the bright sides of life. Poppins brings joy to the family and those around her.

Leading the show, Mary Poppins (Katie Phillips) had a dazzling performance capturing the quaint elegance of the character while commanding the stage with beautiful vocals and strong presence. Phillips portrayed the character's sophisticated spirit and joyful kindness with strength. One family member who took Poppins' lessons most to heart was George Banks (Max Layman). Layman ruled the stage with a precise voice putting the character's perfectionist attitude on full display. But Layman did more than just discipline, Layman's melodramatic struggles to deal with failure at work throughout the second act created a great comedic shift for the character and reached an excellent comedic finisher as Layman cartwheeled across the stage in celebration of a job well done.

Great performances ran throughout the Banks' house. Cook Mrs. Brill (Katie Nail) and Butler Robertson Ay (Chase Danzenbaker) had great conversations as they underwent their hilarious antics in helping the Banks family. Nelus (Grant Camat), the now-living statue, greatly contributed to the show as well. Camat captured the genuine joy and loss of the character with a natural and engaging performance, alongside some groovy dance moves.

The cast was also complemented by the workings of a talented tech team. The show featured numerous sets (Bella Davis, Zach Khan, Allie Harris, Addi Cope), which were switched often to create the immersive experience of the family journeying throughout a whole town. Each set felt unique and interesting, and added a new element of focus to the show. These numerous set changes were helped by the fast-acting stage crew (Bella Davis, Praneeth Basavala, Ethan Hill, Zach Khan) who managed to quickly switch the sets to keep the show going with little delay.

With awesome sets, an excellent stage crew, and splendid characters, Independence delivered a spectacular performance of Mary Poppins that was sure to add a spoonful of sugar to anyone's day.

Molly Shear
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Blue Ridge Leader

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun!" This quote from the show entirely encompasses Independence High School's engaging production of Mary Poppins. With actors flying across the stage and springing out of minuscule houses, this entertaining musical reminds us to enjoy the entertainment that life brings.

A musical with the book by Julian Fellowes, Mary Poppins tells the story of the trials and tribulations of the Banks family. The Banks are of a regular sort, but the children have an unfortunate habit of playing pranks on nanny after nanny, sending each one running out the door in an attempt to escape the little rascals. However, just as George Banks is announcing to his wife that there is no one left and Winifred will be forced to raise the children herself, someone appears in their home. Mary Poppins! With a new and interesting attitude, Mary Poppins barges into their house with the intention of becoming the children's newest caretaker. Will she succeed in taming the children's wily ways? Or will she be the latest in a long line of failures, sent rushing home, never to return again?

Acting as the eponymous character of the show, Katie Phillips as Mary Poppins perfectly embodied the Disney-esque nature of the character. Her incredible vocal ability and consistent posture evoked the true nature of the classic governess. Performing as a foil to Mary Poppins was Miss Andrew (Samantha Scott). Demonstrating the darker side of childcare, Scott was an excellent counterpart to Phillips' happy-go-lucky tone with her more aggressive and orderly nature. As leader of the Banks family, George Banks (Max Layman) had the difficult task of evolving from wanting only precision and order to appreciating what really matters in life: family. However, Layman was more than up to the task, a feat highlighted especially by his culminating scene in the bank wherein he learns that he has been given a promotion and proceeds to do several cartwheels across the stage.

The skillful work of Independence High School's technical team created the set for the time-honored musical. The set (Bella Purucker, Zack Khan, Allie Harris, Addi Cope) was created in such a way that it was able to capture the many locations of the show with ease. All of the many buildings that were designed for the show were executed well and clearly conveyed the appropriate location. The myriad locations of the show also demanded a large amount of costumes that the costumes team (Scarlett Roberto, Lily Namsfield, Madison Nestlebush, Akshara Desidi) provided handily. The costumes all matched the tone of the individual songs while also keeping in mind the overall time period in an impressive balancing act.

Without a doubt, Independence High School's practically perfect production of Mary Poppins was wildly entertaining. With its balance of light-hearted tunes and earnest morals, the show is a reminder that one mustn't take anything too seriously, and if one does, a simple supercalifragilisticexpialidocious will snap them right out of it!

Sarah Jakubowski
Broad Run High School
Submitted for publication to Independence Newspaper

It was a jolly holiday on the streets of London, or rather Independence High School's stage, as they brought audiences on fantastical adventures in their production of "Mary Poppins." Written by Julian Fellowes with music by the Sherman brothers, George Stiles, and Anthony Drew, "Mary Poppins" is based on Disney's film adaptation of P.L. Travers's classic stories. It follows the story of the titular magical nanny as she leads the two children in her care through Edwardian London and introduces them to the quirky denizens of the city's enchanted underbelly.

Overall, the cast exhibited an infectious energy that seemed to invite audiences to get up and dance along. Katie Phillips was practically perfect in every way in the title role, with powerfully gentle vocals and a confident presence that filled and commanded the stage, even while dancing with chimney sweeps or flying with an umbrella. Also of note was Max Layman's performance as George Banks, the hardworking head of the Banks household. Layman approached the role with not only the stern precision that his character loves, but also a tear-jerking emotional range and impressive physical comedy as he unraveled over the course of the show. Other standout performances included Jenna Moser as the heart-wrenchingly loving Winifred Banks, Katie Nail and Chase Danzenbaker as the two hysterical housekeepers Mrs. Brill and Robertson Ay, and the dark, haunting energy of Samantha Scott as the wicked Miss Andrew, who served as the perfect adversary for Mary Poppins. The pair's eventual duel served as a highlight of the show, with both actors belting their hearts out as their characters fought for a place in the house.

The show's magic would not be complete without its technical elements. Fortunately, Independence High School's Stage Management team's (Julia Simanski, McKenna Riolo, Sayje Jaffe, Hannah MacMillan) direction of everything from lights (Gavin Greygor, Jacob Foggi, Connor Gosman) to run crew's transitions between the many massive and intricate set pieces (constructed by Zach Khan and the rest of the construction crew) kept the city of London moving between scenes quickly and efficiently. Just as beautiful as the sets were the costumes (Scarlett Roberto, Lily Mansfield, Madison Nestlebush, Akshara Desidi), hair, and makeup, which not only took inspiration from previous iterations of the story, but from the time period in which it takes place, taking liberties in a deliberate manner when emphasizing the eccentricities of characters like Mrs. Corry (Jacqueline Louh) and Neleus (Grant Camat).

Independence High School's production of "Mary Poppins" took the audience on a colorful journey of giggles, tears, and spoonfuls of sugar that filled the theater with childish wonder. It was a show that can only be described in one very special word:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!