“Practically perfect in every way”, says Mary Poppins. Well, for those who had the privilege of witnessing the Year 5&6 production of Mary Poppins this week, we will settle for simply “Perfect”.
From the first notes of the Overture, to the very final encore (of which there were, deservedly, many!), this truly was a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production. Adorned in a sea of wonderful costumes, and with props galore – from Mary’s umbrella, to chimney sweeps and ‘that’ carpet bag complete with hatstand, mirror, house plant and who knows what else! – Mary Poppins was a visually spectacular experience.
A simultaneously humorous and thought-provoking script was delivered with confidence by the young actors, taking the audience on an emotional journey that explored a variety of personal, socio-economic and familial themes. Spoken lines were complemented by showstopping group numbers (the aforementioned Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious a true highlight) and beautifully melodic solos, including the ever-present, recurring refrain of Chim Chim Cher-ee from Bert, Practically Perfect from Mary, and the timeless Feed the Birds, the Bird Woman’s haunting melody. The supercali choreography, in particular, truly was something to behold, and we are quite sure that pupils will continue to enjoy recreating that performance for days and weeks to come!
As the cast reminds us through song, “anything can happen if you let it”. And so it did. An audience of fellow pupils, parents, visitors and staff left feeling overwhelmingly proud of the Year 5&6 children’s achievement in bringing this timeless musical classic to the Terra Nova stage. Our thanks, as ever, go to the wonderful staff whose commitment, energy and vision for school productions never ceases to amaze, and in particular to Mrs Bennion (Director), Mrs Venables (Musical Director), Ms Robinson (Costume and Props), Mrs Fontes (Set) and Mr Edwards (Technical). Their collective ambition for excellence for all involved is perfectly summed up by the show itself: “If you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars… but if you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in”. A heartfelt “congratulations” to everyone involved.
