By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The magic of Mary Poppins – beloved by generations from the series of children’s books and a timeless Disney movie – comes to the Victoria Hall Concert Hall stage April 3 through 12, as VOS Theatre presents Mary Poppins.
The lady of the title comes onto the scene in 1900s London, when the Banks family is looking for a new nanny and Mary Poppins literally drops in from out of nowhere. And it’s only the beginning of many magical adventures that await young Jane and Michael Banks, with a jack-of-all-trades named Bert along for the ride.
“I grew up watching Mary Poppins, like a lot of people did,” said Maren Margeson, who plays Jane.
“It’s just such a great story, all these magical journeys.”
Both Maren and her “brother” Jack Oxland come to the roles with impressive resumes for students of Dr. M. S. Hawkins Senior Public School in Port Hope (Grades 8 and 6 respectively).
Maren is a veteran of the SONG (Sounds of the Next Generation) program and has performed with her aunt Kerri Ough’s musical group, the Good Lovelies. She made her debut with VOS in their 2023 production of The Sound of Music, and returned last year for their production of The Wizard of Oz.
Jack has performed at the Capitol Theatre in The Hobbit and The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, and with Northumberland Players in A Charlie Brown Christmas and Beauty and the Beast.
Jack loved Mary Poppins too, “since I was a little kid. I really just loved the story – it’s so fun and magical and has a lot of meaning to it. When I saw where VOS was doing it, I thought, ‘Wow, that sounds really fun.’
“I am loving it because I get to work with amazing people. It’s really awesome.”
“All the songs, the dances, the choreographer and dancers are incredible,” Maren agreed.
“VOS is such a great theatre group. Everyone’s so inclusive. It’s a great group to be performing with.”
Of course, both are working closely with Lisa Johnson as their mother Winifred, who described them as “professional and fun and just happy every time they come in.”
Their great work is even more impressive, Johnson said, when you consider they are probably the only two actors that are in every scene. And as she recalls, they were the first two cast members to go off-book and work entirely from memory.
Though all the beloved songs from the movie bring a sweet nostalgia, Maren noted that this production may have some different plot points. Johnson agreed.
“The play’s focus is heavier on the family dynamics between Mr. Banks and Mrs. Banks and the children, and how they are all struggling to work cohesively rather than everybody falling into their roles,” she explained.
Jack is enjoying the chance to bring some special qualities to Michael’s role.
“I really like him, because I feel he’s a lot like me – mischievous sometimes and a bit of a smart aleck, always happy, interested in the stars, which I like,” he said.
“He just wants to have a good connection with his dad, which I think is sweet.”
For Johnson, taking this role is something of a homecoming.
“I haven’t done any theatre since high school. It’s my first time back out,” she said.
“I auditioned and was kind of expecting ensemble, but I was offered Mrs. Banks, which is wonderful.”
Johnson brings another valuable skill to the table, as her day job is speech therapist.
“I did a little session with people to discuss how our accents sound to the rest of the world, with some pointers on how to speak in a proper and Cockney accent.”
That’s two separate accents, she noted, reflecting the properly raised children and their parents as opposed to the everyday working guy like Bert.
VOS exercised some amazing ingenuity last year in The Wizard of Oz with such special effects as the melting witch and the tempest-tossed farmhouse. The magic continues, Johnson reported, with scenes like Mary Poppins making order out of a topsy-turvy kitchen.
Having looked behind the scenes, Maren reports that the crew built special cutlery holders and dishware sets that make it seem as if everything is smashed on the ground, and Mary Poppins takes care of it all in an instant.
“She snaps her fingers and, just like that, it’s fixed,” Johnson said.
As the title character, it was vital to get just the right actor for Mary Poppins, and they aced it with Kieva Earle. She is a former VOS Scholarship winner who is now completing a master’s degree in music and education. That may not come as a surprise for anyone who has worked with her mother Tanya, a music teacher at St. Mary Secondary School, or anyone who has heard the music of her uncle Aengus Finnan.
And just coincidentally, her grandfather Mark Finnan was once manager of the Victoria Hall Concert Hall, where she will perform.
And the casting of 13 young people under the age of 15 guarantees that things stay lively.
For Johnson, the best part is the happy ending – but don’t miss all the special moments along the way, she added, like Jennifer Stacey as Mrs. Brill.
“I have to say Mrs. Brill is a great character. She has just a little bit to do, but she does it well and she has some great lines,” she pointed out.
“I think people are going to be a bit surprised when the come in and see it’s not like the film, but I think very pleasantly surprised with the familiarity of their favourite songs. It’s a great time out for everybody.”
“So much fun for the whole family,” Jack declared.
Other cast members include Mark Johnston as Bert and Tim Annis as George Banks, with Jonathan Wilson (Robertson Ay), Meghan Flindall (Katie Nanna), Liam Amaron (Neleus the Statue), Rose Flindall (Valentine), Florence Fletcher (Bird Woman), Liam Amaro (Mrs, Corry Neila), Kelly Paron (Miss Andrew) and Melanie Racine (Miss Smythe) with dual roles played by Liam Cragg, Dave Wilson, Kara Milner, Jamie Milner, Camryn Chalovich and Lorol Avery – as well as a young ensemble cast that includes Celidh Blythe, Rebecca Deane, Cam Flindall, Remi Flindall, Madelaine McCready, Safe Newland, Maddison Rawley, Blyth Struthers, Theo Struthers and Brody Welch.
The production is co-directed by Jeff Halligan and Dave Wilson and produced by Nelia Amaro and Micol Marotti with vocal director Nadia Stogryn Morier, lead choreographer Katie Flindall (with additional choreography by Mackenzie Annis), and orchestra conductor Jill Baker.
For ticket information, visit vostheatre.com or contact the Victoria Hall Concert Hall box office at 905-372-2210.
