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Playhouse cast stages magical ‘Mary Poppins’
By Eric McCrea
’Tis the season for shopping mayhem, but if you’re looking for an escape from the chaos, look no further than The Youngstown Playhouse. “Mary Poppins: A New Musical” takes beloved characters from the well-known Disney film and the original series of books and brings them to life with magic and whimsy. Even if you’ve seen the movie a thousand times, you’ll find something new to love watching it on stage.
The show begins with jack-of-all-trades Bert, played by Don Wolford, who served as a narrator with the familiar “Chim Chim Cher-ee” theme. The Banks children, Jane and Michael (Elizabeth Jadue and Caleb Bordonaro), have chased off their most- recent nanny, prompting their parents to search for a new one. Before an advertisement can even be placed, Mary Poppins (Kayla Boye) arrives to see if the Bankses are worthy of her service. Her magic proves helpful in keeping the home tidy and entertaining the mischievous children. In the end, the real magic of Mary Poppins is the transformation of the Banks family.
James McClellan was masterful as Mr. George Banks, offering the most-palpable transformation from the enchanted nanny’s influence. As Mrs. Winifred Banks, Jacquelyn Stevens was endearing and sweet without being too bubbly. The two were well matched and proved to be a formidable team.
Wolford’s strength is his character. Though charming and energetic, his songs were slightly lower than his ideal range.
Jadue excelled at playing a brat with a sweet side. Her singing ability showed a lot of potential for someone so young, and she is sure to delight area audiences for years to come.
Bordonardo was especially entertaining as the youngest member of the cast. He showed talent beyond his years, which I can only guess are still in the single digits. If anyone stole the show in this high-caliber cast, it was him.
In a role taken from the book series, Connie Cassidy was a welcome surprise as the Holy Terror, Miss Andrew. The strict former nanny of Mr. Banks added a villainous touch to the story, culminating in what can only be described as a soprano rumble.
For any fans of the classic movie, Boye had some tough shoes to fill. She was able to portray the titular role with her own unique contributions without eroding that recognizable Mary Poppins look.
Also worthy of note was Molly Galano, who played the Bird Woman. She enhanced the somber character with a touch of humor.
Microphone issues marred the first few songs of the show. While Wolford, McClellan and Stevens were able to project, Boye was virtually mute. However, this was fixed by “Jolly Holiday,” and the show progressed without further volume problems. Impressively, Frank G. Martin, who tackled the roles of the hilarious park keeper and the dubious Mr. Von Hussler, had no problems being heard sans mic. His antithesis, Miss Brill, played by Kathleen C. Sanfrey, was often difficult to hear.
The large ensemble shined vocally, but at times seemed to overwhelm the stage. The choreography in the large- group numbers fluctuated from grandly basic to inappropriately modern for an Edwardian-era setting.
“Mary Poppins: A New Musical” runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. For reservations, call The Youngstown Playhouse at 330-788-8739.