Mary Poppins at Chelmsford (MA) High School

I walked into the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center last night with high expectations for the opening night performance of the Broadway musical Mary Poppins. The musical is based on the classic stories from P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney film. Though not a sold out performance, the audience was enthusiastic as they took their seats and the lights dimmed.

A beautifully painted curtain depicting the stairs and front door of the Bank’s home on Cherry Tree Lane hung down over the stage. As soon as Bert (Timmy Chase) stepped onto the stage and began the prologue, I knew that the audience was in for a treat. From his opening line to his final flying flip, Timmy Chase was absolutely brilliant. He reminded me of the great Dick Van Dyke, who, alongside the unparalleled Julie Andrews in Walt Disney’s film, brought Bert and Mary Poppins to life. It’s been just over fifty years since Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews sang and danced their way into our hearts as these charming and wonderful characters. While no one could ever surpass the original, in this musical production, Timmy Chase as Bert and Caroline Flynn as Mary Poppins came very close and were “Practically Perfect.” Caroline with her clear, beautiful voice brought joy, laughter and pure fun every time she walked or rather flew onto the stage. Although both are graduating this year from Chelmsford High, these two young performers are ones to watch for in the coming years. I am sure, if last night’s show is any indication, that we’ve not seen the last of their incredible talent for them, high school is only the beginning.  

Other highlights include wonderful choreography by student choreographers and lead dancers: Amanda LoCoco, Taylor Erikson and Marisa Getchell. I especially want to commend them on their work on the ensemble pieces of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Step in Time”. Both pieces are energetically up-tempo and can be intimidating to even the most experienced choreographers yet these ladies nailed it; with quick and inventive arm movements during “Supercal…” and strong, clear tapping in “Step in Time”, these young choreographers had the entire audience clapping and cheering throughout each number.

Though no production is without its slip-ups, Chelmsford High’s ambitious production of Mary Poppins is a fun and charming night out.  Surely, with Caroline Flynn and Timmy Chase leading the way as Mary Poppins and Bert, it is certain to have a weekend full of well-deserved standing ovations.

The Lion King National Tour

For many years I had always wondered what the hype was about concerning The Lion King musical. The other night as I sat in my orchestra seat at the Boston Opera House I eagerly anticipated the start of, what I can now say is, one of the best musical productions I have ever seen. Within 30 seconds I fully understood what all the hype was about. I have never before been so amazed and mesmerized by an opening number. From the brilliantly costumed animal characters that made their way to the stage through the theater, to the lighting and the incredible sun that rose on the stage and glistened above Pride Rock, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of what was taking place before me. The passion that came across through the music and the voices of everyone on stage radiated through the audience. Comedy abound in this show and of course it came from Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu who had the audience laughing out loud 99% of the time. Even Scar, the villain of the story, had his own comedic moments. The dancing was suburb and the special character movements added a whole other dimension to the show. The way the actors were able to portray animals with the use of a head piece or a larger puppetry piece was astonishing. It all flowed together flawlessly. I have never seen an audience become so entranced by a show: they erupted in applause and jumped to their feet the moment the bows began. This show plays in Boston until October 12^th and I highly recommend that if you haven’t seen it yet, go see it! You won’t be disappointed by this two hour musical marvel!

Cirque du Soleil's Varekai

This past Sunday I took a road trip up to Portland, ME to see one of the final performances of Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai. This touring production usually plays about a week before going to a new city and as I walked towards the arena I counted almost twenty 18-wheeler trucks ready to start packing up the show once it closed Sunday night. The story of Varekai is that of a white bird named Icarus who after losing his wings learns to trust fate. His wings are broken and he falls into a forest of colorful creatures including a beautiful creature of the earth whom he learns to trust and love. This show drew the audience in from the first moment the lights dimmed and the music began. This being my second Cirque show, I was eager to see what acts would amaze me this time. One of the first that really got the excitement of the arena going was that of the Icarian games. These acrobats would bounce & flip each other through the air. Often there would be multiple people being tossed about all in perfect unison. How they are able to accomplish it I do not know. But they must spend hours and hours practicing. Later in the show was a slippery surface act. These water creatures would slip and slide all over this blue mat that was attached to the stage. These acrobats would balance on one another and get pulled across the stage at the same time. It was beautiful to watch. As usual the Aerial Straps routine was amazing. The amount of strength and agility the performers need to have while at the same time moving with such grace is amazing. But my absolute favorite routine was the last one, Russian Swings. These acrobats would stand on small swinging platforms and catapult themselves across the stage, bounce off of hanging fabric and land back on the stage. It was incredible! I, as well as the rest of the audience, were on the edge of our seats the entire number. Overall, this show was colorful, athletic and a lot of fun to watch. I look forward to my next Cirque du Soleil show!