May 24, 25, 30, 31, June 6, 7, 13, 14, 2015
.png){kind=logo}
The spring show for 2015 was the Walt Disney and Cameron MacKintosh musical version of Mary Poppins. Based on the Disney movie of the same name, it told the classic tale written by P.L. Travers.
The show was put together by the veteran Kitsap Forest Theater (KFT) production staff of Craig Schieber (director), Guy Caridi (Choreographer), Amy Beth Nolte (Music Director), Barbara Klingberg (Costumes), and Chris Stanley (Sets). Nikki Fey-Burgett and Josh Zimmerman played the musical accompaniment.
Meagan Castillo portrayed the enigmatic character of Mary Poppins, the magical nanny who helps to put right the struggling Banks family. KFT newcomer Merill Matheson ably caught the sense of the sprightly — and, fittingly, a bit spritely — Bert, originally played by Dick Van Dyke in the movie.
Guy Caridi's choreography of the 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious', 'Jolly Holiday' and 'Step in Time' dances were extremely popular. In addition, it was Guy's first chance to actually dance in one of his own productions at KFT. 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' was particularly known for the dancers frenetically spelling out supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
On the set side, this was the first opportunity for Chris Stanley to use the newly raised mound on the back of the stage. Inside, but invisible to the audience is a 'secret' room from which a full hat stand was pulled from Mary's traveling bag - in many stage productions one hears the clicking of the hat stand coming together, but not here. The mound was two feet taller than it was the previous year. The mound was now roughly the same height it was 40–50 years ago. The original mound was built over very large cedar trunks which had slowly deteriorated over the years.
The Banks family was portrayed by veteran actors from KFT, Tod Harrick (Mr. Banks), Jenny Dreessen (Mrs. Banks), and Joseph Martinez (Michael), coupled with newcomer Lydia Salo (Jane). Oliver Girouard (Robertson Ay) and Becky Eastgard (Mrs. Brill) rounded out the Banks household.
Dawn Brazel, who acted in KFT productions in the 1980's and 1990's and music directed Annie (2014), switched her role back to an actor to portray the Bird Woman and the wicked nanny, Mrs. Andrew. She sang the classic 'Feed the Birds' while seated in the audience. She would return to music directing Shrek, the Musical (2015) and The Music Man (2016).
During the last performance, Mary (Meagan Castillo) lost her voice and Jenny Dreessen (Mrs. Banks) augmented her singing from the wings. Meagan and Jenny had recently sung together in the KFT production of Into the Woods as Rapunzel and the Witch.
