Performers lower their heads as they bow, finishing the night of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious excitement at Roger Rocka’s production of “Mary Poppins.” The Good Company Players actors and actresses gave the audience an exciting and high-spirited adventure in London to remember.

Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater is widely beloved in the Fresno community. Located in Downtown Fresno, the theater produces many well-known musicals and plays, such as “The Sound of Music” and now “Mary Poppins.” Audiences flock to Roger Rocka’s for exciting shows put on by the Good Company Players. Attendees can choose to purchase either a single-show ticket or a dinner & show ticket, both of which are memorable experiences.

To purchase tickets, visit Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater.

• Dinner and Show – $79.00
• Student/Senior/Military (Students with School ID 18 and over. Seniors: 62 and over.) – $76.00
• Kids Dinner and Show (Age 17 and under when accompanied by an adult with a Dinner & Show ticket) – $58.0
• Show Only – $45.00
• Convenience Fee – $8.00

Plot of Mary Poppins

Premiering as a movie musical in 1964, starring beloved actress Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins is based on P.L. Travers’ book series of the same name. In 2004, Cameron Macintosh created the stage production of the classic story, drawing on elements of both the Disney movie and Travers’ books. Beginning the musical, Bert, played by Shawn Williams, takes us into London, England, in 1910, where audiences are introduced to the Banks family. The Banks’ children, Jane, portrayed by Daniella Sarkisian, and Micheal played by Roman Alvarado, have left another nanny packing as they are incredibly spoiled and misbehave incessantly. With their father always working and their mother never giving them her attention, the children have grown up without a true caretaker in the family.

Out of nowhere, Emily Pessano as Mary Poppins flies into the children’s lives, bringing laughter, magic and discipline. Through exciting and magical adventures, Mary Poppins teaches the children valuable lessons, such as taking medicine, of course, with a spoonful of sugar, and cleaning up the messy nursery. Not only do the children learn lessons, but so do the adults.

 

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Storyline

Act 1

In the first act, the audience is introduced to major characters, including Bert, Mary Poppins herself, and the parents. Other characters, like Robertson Ay and Mrs. Brill, the young servant and housekeeper of the Banks’ house, Neleus the statue, and Northbrook and Von Hussler, are introduced as well through interactions with the main characters. Everyone came out with a huge and intriguing presence, which made the entire experience more entertaining. 

Mary becomes the children’s nanny, and they instantly love her teachings more than the other nannies they had before. Spectators are introduced to one of the major plots in the story: George Banks’ position at the bank. George has to decide whether to give a loan to Von Hussler, a scheming customer with a good idea, or to Northbrook, a good man with a humble idea. Just when it seems like George has made the right choice, his paychecks and time at the bank are halted as Von Hussler goes to a rival bank and creates a “gold mine” for them. 

“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” proved to be a fantastic and highly entertaining number, which did not disappoint expectations. The last two songs weren’t as upbeat as “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” but “Playing the Game” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee” showcased the dynamic between different characters with Mary Poppins. “Chim Chim Cher-ee” brought a special moment and a relationship between Bert and Mary before Mary exited.

Act 2

In the second act, Mary Poppins is still gone, and to George’s horror, his terrible old nanny, Miss Andrew, has been brought in to nanny his own children. She is stern and treacherous to the children, giving them “Brimstone and Treacle” when they misbehave. However, to the children’s delight and surprise, Mary Poppins arrives once again. She chases Miss Andrews away using her own “Brimstone and Treacle.”

The lights dim as the show time shifts from day to night, and the chimney sweepers appear. They perform “Step in Time” and “Down the Chimney,” which are two extremely vibrant numbers. During “Step in Time,” the tap number was a fun addition to the performance and showcased the many talents that the Company has to offer for audiences.

After this fun number, George is called into his office, which leaves him worried yet knowing he did the right thing when choosing Northbrook. To his surprise, his boss is not upset but jovial as Von Hussler’s scheming plan proved to devastate the bank’s competitor, and Northbrook’s idea has given the bank a surge of money. Winifred, George’s wife, barges in to defend George and his decision without knowing what had happened. George reassures her that the boss is happy with him, giving him a raise and not firing him as previously thought. He now makes four times what he had previously made from the bank. 

Finally, the show ends with part two of  “Anything Can Happen” and the reprise of “A Spoonful of Sugar.” The children, parents and Bert all wave goodbye as Mary Poppins rises in the sky with her iconic umbrella. 

Sets

The sets of Mary Poppins were good; however, they weren’t up to par with others, such as the sets used in “The Sound of Music.” Some of them seemed plain, for instance, in the children’s bedroom and the park. A drop-down screen and projector were used to bring aspects of scenery and transitions, like the background of the Banks’ living room or the front entrance of the house. With the limited space and complexity of the show, it is understandable that they used a projector for most of the scenes, and with this in mind, the sets were well designed for their circumstances.

Actor Performance

The actors and actresses in this production were nothing short of phenomenal. Many of them took their characters and brought them to life, even if they were small and background characters. The acting by everyone was by far the best performance I have ever seen, topping even my all-time favorite production done by Roger Rocka’s: “The Sound of Music.” The actors performed with British accents as the play is set in London, England, which made the show even better than it already was, as it felt as if the audience was truly in London.

Mary Poppins, played by Emily Passano, was absolutely stunning. She was vibrant, beautiful, and completely embodied the character of Mary Poppins. Her voice was exquisite, and I loved her joyful personality that shone through when singing “Practically Perfect” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Passano showcased connection and fun chemistry with the children and the character, Bert. The two performed together wonderfully and brought such joy to the show.

Bert was truly the star of the show. Ever since watching the classic movie for the first time, I’ve always adored the character, and Shawn Williams exemplified the energy of the character. He was funny, intriguing and incredibly talented. I loved his duets with the children and Passano because, like Passano, Williams had miraculous chemistry with the other actors and actresses. 

 

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When watching the performance, my eyes gravitated towards him, and his parts were always my favorite. My favorite song by far would have to be “Step In Time” for its enthusiastic numbers and the inclusion of a tap performance. This addition amplified the lively show. 

The child actors were incredibly talented as well. Daniella Sarkisian, who played Jane, and Roman Alvarado playing William, gave an unbelievable performance through both their acting and singing. It was fun to see them act out the mischievous nature of the children. The parent actors did amazing as well. Both Lex Martin as George Banks and Carly Oliver as Winifred Banks portrayed their respective characters with enthusiasm and confidence. 

Throughout the entire show, I felt like the actors and actresses truly embodied the characters they were given. From using the same accent or performing with such passion, each performer showcased talent for the audience to enjoy.

Interpretation/Style

The way the cast took the story and made it their own was powerful. I give it a 5/5 for the interpretation of the original musical, which I loved. Many of the actresses and actors expressed their characters with such aptitude and individuality, making the performance even more enjoyable. While the plot is relatively similar across the board when it comes to such performances, the Good Mary Poppins Company Players showed a different performance style as they used the audience in certain situations. 

They added fun surprises, including the table and dishes in the cabinet falling, then being magically put back together by Mary Poppins. The cast also made the show very immersive as some scenes had characters running through the audience.

Costumes

The costumes were stunning. They were well-crafted and fit the time period of the early 1900s. Not only were they well-made and showcased the time period, but many of the actors and actresses transitioned from one wardrobe to another in record time. I appreciated this factor as it allowed the performance to differ from others. It gave variety and uniqueness to each of the different numbers and scenes throughout the play. 

Overall, the cast of “Mary Poppins” did an extraordinary job. I loved it from the very moment it began with the bright and fun performance of every one of the cast members. If you’re looking for an entertaining night out for family or friends, Roger Rocka’s “Mary Poppins” is a fantastic local choice to go see.

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