'Disney's Mary Poppins' by Landmark Community Theatre - My Review

Landmark Community Theatre's summer production of the Connecticut premiere of Disney's Mary Poppins opened on Friday to an almost full house. The Thomaston Opera House volunteers added many special touches to make the experience extra special for the children and their grownups that accompanied them. There were balloons marking path to the rear entrance to the theater where my teen and I picked up our complimentary tickets. We then noticed that Bert and a few chimney sweeps were hanging out on the roof of the Opera House waving to the patrons as they waited in line. Juan Cardona Jr. was already entertaining the assembling audience with a long list of Disney music masterly played on the huge pipe organ. I will admit I sang along to a few...quietly. 

The musical is based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film with original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and book by Julian Fellowes with new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. It still features the jack-of-all-trades Bert (played to perfection by the charming Randy Ronco) who doubles as the narrator to the story of the troubled Banks family who benefit greatly from a visit from a "Practically Perfect" magical nanny named Mary Poppins (Katie Brunetto.)

Fans of the Disney movie version will notice the new songs and the deletion of some scenes. It is still set in 1910 London  but characters have been added and the entire suffragette theme has been removed. The classic numbers remain and are even better here than what I remember from the movie. Despite the musical tweeks, the kids can sing along on such classics as Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” and the spectacularly staged dance number “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” "Jolly Holiday" did not include dancing penguins, but was still pretty impressive.

In fact, Mary Poppin's invented adjective fits the entire production. The wonderful set was designed by David Verdosci and director Jimmy Donohue and the magical costumes by Aurora Montenero are pretty faithful to those that we remember from the movie and Disney parades. Opening night proved a tiny bit challenging for both sound and lighting, for as the song goes "Anything Can Happen," but I am sure that they will work out the kinks "spit spot."

Mr. Donohue made his directorial debut at Landmark with this production. Most often seen on various community theater stages acting, singing and dancing, he can now add director to his long list of credits. He has done a spectacular job in bringing this very demanding show to life on the smallish Thomaston Opera House stage. He rose to every single challenge and with the help of music directors Jim Luurtsema and John Dressel made his carefully chosen cast look and sound outstanding. Jen Bunger made sure that the talented dancers and ensemble members danced their best. Eric Wilczak made sure everyone where they were supposed to be as Stage Manager. Special mention to the tap dancers that made us cheer and the flying manned by Alex Dunn and Josh Peterson that was flawless.

All the special effects in England can't cover for an ordinary cast, but this cast is far from ordinary. As the nanny like none other, Ms. Brunetto is perfectly perfect. Her Mary Poppins is no-nonsense, magical, and caring all at the same time; she is vocal perfection (there's that word again) and dances up a storm and well, flies. Not to mention that her clipped British accent never wavers.

Randy Ronco just knocked the collective socks off the audience at opening night. His beautiful singing voice mixed with a strong acting ability made his performance so very memorable. I am sorry that I missed his take on the role of Leo Bloom in "The Producers" at the TOH.

With many costume changes, Connor Dunn did a great job will all his featured roles, as did Daniel Dressel. Jessica Chabre in her Landmark debut was the overworked housekeeper Mrs. Brill and the lovely Janis Clifton played Miss Smythe. LaureAnn Price was terrifying as the extra nasty nanny Miss Andrews. Paula Roll sang the lovely "Feed the Birds" as the Bird Woman. Tracy Funke grabbed on to the role of Mrs. Corry and ran with it.

The Banks children have a lot to do in this show and the two youngest members of the cast was both excellent in their roles. Kathleen Green, in her TOH debut, is a feisty Jane and eleven-year-old Ben Stone-Zelman was an adorable Michael. Peter Bard was the stuffy Mr. Banks and Betsy Edwards sang beautifully as his wife Winifred.

The large orchestra under the careful direction of Mr. Luurtsema made this glorious score sound its best and five pit singers rounded out the vocals.

I already know that this show will make my top ten list for 2104 because is it that good. The children around us loved it and the adults were on their feet cheering at the end of opening night. I highly recommend that you head to the Opera House to catch Mary Poppins before the winds change and the show ends.