Colorado’s Candlelight Dinner Theatre has opened its 11th season with the magical Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical.
It must be said, this is not your grandkid’s Disney movie. And that’s not a bad thing.
This stage musical incorporates several elements from that classic, including song favorites such as “Feed the Birds,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” but it also includes back stories for Mr. and Mrs. Banks that come straight out of the books by P.L. Travers and reflect a rather truer picture of middle-class British life in the socially conscious days of the early 1900s. There are also a few new songs such as the poignant “Being Mrs. Banks” and the showstopper by a villainous new character, Miss Andrew, “Brimstone and Treacle.”
Winifred Banks, former actress, and George Banks, banker (Alisha Winter-Hayes and Scott Hurst, Jr.). Photo courtesy Candlelight Dinner Theatre
Jane and Michael Banks are rather unruly, one might even say bratty, children who never get along with the nanny that their mother has hired to look after them, and usually succeed in driving her away in a matter of days. Their father, George, a lending officer at a bank, has no time for them or even for his wife, as he is under extreme pressure by his employers to make money for the bank.
George would like he and his wife, Winifred, to mix with the best people, but this is difficult because she is a former actress and, no matter how hard she tries, she is looked down upon by her husband’s social circle.
Into this dysfunctional household comes Mary Poppins, a nanny with an umbrella, a bottomless carpet bag, and a few other magical tricks up her sleeves. Along with her friend Bert, a Jack-of-all-trades including painter and chimney sweep, Mary Poppins shows the children how wonderful life can be. But then the wind changes…
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius! Photo courtesy Candlelight Dinner Theatre
The Candlelight Dinner Theatre’s production of Mary Poppins is “practically perfect” in every way.
Harmony Livingston is “spit spot” as Mary Poppins, with a lovely voice and just the right demeanor for the umbrella-wielding nanny who has her work cut out for her with the Banks family.
Cole Emarine displays his dancing skills as Bert the chimney sweep, but also shows himself to be a fine actor.
Scott Hurst has the rather difficult role of the initially unsympathetic George Banks, who gradually – very gradually! – shows his sympathetic side as it is revealed how and why he grew into the stern martinet that his children want to love.
Alisha Winter-Hayes delivers in the sympathetic role of the vulnerable Winifred Banks, who wants so desperately to be the wife her husband needs her to be – rather than expects her to be.
Two sets of actors play Jane and Michael – either Julia Gibson or Gwyneth Bohl as Jane, and Ryan Fisher or John Miley as Michael. This quartet of young actors has plenty of experience on stage, so either duo will delight you.
Bert the Chimney Sweep (Cole Emarine) will reveal some magical powers of his own. Photo courtesy Candlelight Dinner Theatre
The staging of Mary Poppins has been done in the most delightful way, as well. The dances are high energy and the songs are affecting, both the classics from the Sherman Brothers and the handful of new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. When Mary Poppins leave the stage for the final time…it’s no surprise that the audience starts cheering.
Mary Poppins (Harmony Livingston). Photo courtesy Candlelight Dinner Theatre. Photo courtesy Candlelight Dinner Theatre
The Food
Bangers and mash – with the broccoli left off by request! Inset of soup of the day, chicken, and another entree, fish and chips
The food always deserves a review at the Candlelight Dinner Theatre, since each entrée is themed to the musical being performed.For Mary Poppins, which takes place in London, the entrees are “bangers and mash” (sausage links served with mashed potatoes), Chicken tikka masala (reflecting England’s colonial empire during the early 1900s), fish and chips, vegetarian shepherd’s pie, or a Cobb salad. For upgraded entrees, there’s grilled prime rib, Dijon-dill salmon, or stuffed Cornish hen.
Specialty drinks include George’s Company Punch, Mary’s Spoonful, Mrs. Corry’s Concoction, Suprcalifragilisticexpiali-southside, and Bert’s Jolly Holiday.
The Cast
| Mary Poppins | Harmony Livingston |
| Bert | Cole Emarine |
| George Banks | Scott Hurst Jr. |
| Winifred Banks | Alisha Winter-Hayes |
| Jane | Julia Gibson/Gwyneth Bohl |
| Michael | Ryan Fisher/ John Miley |
| Mrs. Brill/Ensemble | Annie Dwyer |
| Robertson Ay | Scotty Shaffer |
| Admiral Boom/Ensemble | Tom Mullin |
| Bird Woman/Ensemble | Sarah Grover |
| Mrs. Corry/Miss Lark/Ensemble | Lisa Kay Carter |
| Miss Andrew/Ensemble | Victoria Pace |
| Katie Nanna/Ensemble | Susanna Houdersheldt |
| Miss Smythe/Ensemble | Heather McClain |
| Northbrook/Ensemble | Mikeal Macbeth |
| Neelus/Ensemble | Logan Traver |
| Policeman/Ensemble | Kent Sugg |
| Park Keeper/Ensemble | Broc Timmerman |
| Ensemble | Stephanie Hesse, Kristine Bachicha, Ronan Viard |
| Swing | Ethan Knowleds |
| Willoughbee | Furby |
The Crew
| Director | Pat Payne |
| Choreographer | Kate Vallee |
| Music Director | Phil Forman |
| Scenic Designer | Casey Kearns |
| Lighting Designer | Christopher Waller |
| Costume Designer | Judith Ernst & Deb Faber |
| Technical Director | David MacEachen |
| Sound Designer | Phillip Baugh |
| Wigs | Liz Hoover |
| Master Carpenter | Dmitry Yunda |
| Light Board Operators | Thomas P. Castro & Samantha Jo Staggs |
| Sound Board Operator | Jacob Rogersa |
| Scenic Artists | Mary Gagnon & Joel Adam Chavez |
| Props Masters | Jessica Rivera & Becky Warnerz |
The Orchestra
| Keyboard 1/Conductor | Phil Foreman |
| Keyboard 2 | Heather Hall |
| Reeds | Gabriela Bliss, Kwami Barnett, Darrel Watson |
| Horn | Anna Heider |
| Trumpet | Josh Marcheim |
| Trombone | Ben Bontrager, Josh Ceciliani |
| Bass | Christopher Norwood |
| Percussion | John Meriwether |
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