The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre enchanted audiences this past weekend with its spring musical production of Mary Poppins. Sold-out shows were directed by Emily Blankenship-Tucker and ran March 27-30 in the Sale Theatre.
“I thought being Michael was fun, and I really loved dancing in ‘Step in Time’, explained Silas Blankenship-Tucker, age 8.
“Precision and Order”, “Spoonful of Sugar”, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, “Jolly Holiday”, “Practically Perfect”, and “Anything Can Happen” were also among the lineup of songs performed throughout the play.
Students, staff, and community members came together to build the set pieces that brought Cherry Tree Lane to life on stage. The production also featured a range of magical special effects, from Mary Poppins‘ signature entrance to the cast’s gravity-defying rooftop dances, all of which were also designed and constructed in-house, adding an extra layer of wonder to the show.
Another interesting aspect of this play is that there were many cast and crew members that were participating in a play for the first time. This added an air of freshness and enthusiasm to the performance overall.
“This play challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and showed just what I was capable of when it comes down to it,” said crew member Nick Gore, junior.
This production proved to be a true labor of love and was brought to life by the passion and dedication of everyone involved. From the vibrant performances to the carefully crafted set designs, every detail added to the overall magical atmosphere of Mary Poppins.
“Being a part of Mary Poppins has been a wonderful experience,” said Django Burgess, sophomore, who played multiple roles. “Disney shows generally don’t achieve our theatre goals at Ferrum. However, Mary Poppins was the perfect fit for a show that brings adequate magic and childhood wonder, all aspects that we promote through our work in the Performing Arts Department as well as the Jack Tale Players. Doing a show this big is something that is usually not possible with such a small company, but I know that was part of the reason for the department choosing this production: the challenge. We all pushed ourselves to meet the technical goals of this show, and I believe our work paid off. We had multiple fantastic sold-out audiences, packed dinners, and lots of first-time visitors. These are things we always hope for and were so happy to receive”
Mary Poppins was a showcase of creativity and community and a shining example that “anything can happen if you let it”.
