Theatre Kent is presenting the family musical Mary Poppins at the Kiwanis Theatre in Chatham at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 to 18, with a special 1:30 p.m. matinee on Nov. 16.
The Disney/Cameron Mackintosh production features musical favourites such as Supercallifragiliciousexpialidocioius, Step In Time and Feed The Birds, and a level of choreography rarely seen in community theatre.
Director Tim Luimes said the show’s underlying message “is the importance of family and relationships, but it presents the music in a delightful and magical tour of imagination.”
He added that, “the musical fun keeps going with hardly a break!”
Christine Baribeau, who directs musicals at Chatham-Kent Secondary School, is playing the title role and she said appearing onstage as Mary Poppins is a dream come true.
“I actually had the costume already!” she said.
The show tells the story of a unique nanny who arrives at the stuffy English home of the Banks family. Children Michael (Corson Fraleigh) and Jane (Klare Rumble) have chased out a few nannies already, but Mary Poppins will not be deterred by their childish pranks.
Tim O’Malley is playing Bert, the dancing chimney sweep and jack-of-all-trades, who sets his cap for the eccentric Mary Poppins.
Also featured in the show are Samantha DeGroot as Winnifred Banks, Josh Norg as George Banks, as well as the show’s choreographer Britt DeJoseph, who appears in several roles.
The large cast, ranging in age from seven on up also includes: Kate Arbour, Libby Attewell, Natalie Budd, Devynn Carver, Shelly DeJong and her dog Scrappy, Aeowyn Dunlop, Sam Enzlin, Sarah-Grace Enzlin, Chelsey Hirnam, Cheryl Holdaway, Matthew Holdaway, Martin Lachapelle, Carys Laderoute, Rachel Laderoute, Cynthia Luimes, Jayden Luimes, Terrance Meechem, Blake Pickard, Francesca Pickard, Julia Pinsonneault, Vanessa Pisquem, Erik Shaw, Elliot Smith, Ryan Tetreault, Nyles Tomlinson, Sandra Tsao, Emma Vandermeer-Tomkins, Faith Vandermeer-Tomkins, Katherine VanderSar and Charlie Wiebenga.
Music director Elisabeth Enzlin said, “Mary Poppins is a formidable classic with the power to bestow wonderful memories and life lessons.
“The breadth and depth of this show in terms of music and choreography will delight audience members of all ages and keep them singing and wanting to dance long after the show closes,” she said.
Tickets for the show are now available through the Chatham Cultural Centre box office by calling 519-354-8338 and online at www.cktickets.com.
