Williamsburg students embrace the magic of Mary Poppins

WILLIAMSBURG — Learning the lines, learning the songs, blocking the scenes. It’s all part of putting on a musical every fall.

But the magic is new. “The magic is a lot,” said Lauren Parrish, director of the Williamsburg High School production of “Mary Poppins.”

Based on the children’s books by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film, the “Mary Poppins” stage play opened in 2004 with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Parrish, the music teacher at Mary Welsh Elementary School in Williamsburg, chose “Mary Poppins” for the high school musical this fall because of her strong senior class. She knew the theater group would be up to the challenge, she said.

And the play allows for a large cast. Parrish has a lot of students in this, her seventh, high school musical.

The magic in the play is the biggest challenge, said Parrish. She began trying to figure out how Mary Poppins’ magic works on stage this week.

Parrish rented the sets this year, from a retired member of the Indianapolis Civic Center. The premade sets were up and ready this week so the stage crew could practice moving them between scenes.

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The play is fun, said Parrish, and the students are enjoying it.

As in last year’s “Newsies,” some “Mary Poppins” cast members are not high school students. Jane Banks will be played by sixth grader Emery Drahos, and eighth grader Zeke Thomas will play her brother, Michael Banks.

Sophie Kleinmeyer is the understudy for Jane.

Parrish says it’s exciting to see the younger people excited about being on stage. They have given the director no trouble. “They come ready to go,” Parrish said.

Three of Parrish’s cast members sang the national anthem for a volleyball game at the school before play practice. Rubi Allison (Mary Poppins), Cooper Bott (Bert), and Kendall Jepson (Mrs. Brill and Mrs. Corry), along with Nolan Kent, who’s not in the musical, are trying out for all-state chorus together this weekend.

Bott has performed in all four musicals presented during his high school years.

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Bott’s favorite role was that of Seymour Krelborn in “Little Shop of Horrors,” he said. “I had so much fun, and the cast was so infectious.

Only a freshman at the time, Bott looked up to Landon Jepson as a mentor. “He was just a big inspiration.”

So was Bott’s sister, Jaisel. “She was definitely a good inspiration to me,” said Bott. “It was nice to be on stage with her.”

In Bott’s sophomore year he played the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast,” and last year he was Jack Kelly in “Newsies.”

“My grandma really put me in music at a young age,” said Bott. He likes the way music allows him to express himself.

“It’s been a great time here,” Bott said during rehearsal Tuesday. “It’s going to be sad to see it end.”

Even before Bott entered high school, he was performing on stage. At the age of 10 he played Pugsley in “The Addams Family” at the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana before it closed its doors.

“That show was super fun,” said Bott. He enjoyed working with adults.

Bott also performed in Williamsburg High School musicals before he was a student there. As a fourth grader, Bott was the mayor of Munchkin City in “The Wizard of Oz.”

“I was so afraid of the wicked witch,” Bott remembered.

In sixth grade, Bott played young Shrek. After his experiences on stage as a child, Bott couldn’t wait to get on stage when he got to high school.

Bott plans to major, not in theater, but in music in college, he said. “I’m wanting to do vocal performance. Music is definitely not leaving my life when I leave high school.”

The leading lady in “Mary Poppins” is junior Rubi Allison.

“I’ve been in two previous plays,” Allison said. She played the feather duster, Babette, in “Beauty and the Beast” and Race in “Newsies.”

Mary Poppins is a challenge, and not just because of the British accent. “I’m not good at sounding proper,” said Allison.

Mary Poppins isn’t mean, but she’s strict. Allison said that doesn’t come easy to her.

The British accent is something all of the cast members had to learn. “We read the handbook,” said Allison. It tells the cast how to pronounce letters the way they are pronounced in the United Kingdom.

“I marked all of my lines in my book,” said Allison. She learned the lines phonetically based on the notations. The vowel sounds are different, and the Rs are difficult to get right. They’re always soft, she said.

As Mary Poppins, Allison tries to sound “proper,” as opposed to Bert, who is more casual in his speech.

Mary Poppins and Bert both have the job of helping the Banks children and their parents, but they do it in different ways, said Allison.

“She really awakens everybody,” said Allison. Bert’s role is more subtle. “Like her right-hand man.”

Though “Mary Poppins” is a fun romp through the magical life of its title character, it handles serious themes.

“There are so many important things in this musical,” said Allison. “It teaches you a lot.”

The process of putting on a play is magical in itself, said Allison. A bunch of people come together to do something that is really important. They take words from a page and move it to the stage, turning it into “a living, breathing production.”

“I really do love it,” said Allison.

Other cast members are Hudson Nunnelley, as George Banks; Selah Smith, as Winifred; Jaxson Douglas, Neleus and bank chairman; Brady Peterson, Robertson Ay; Emerson Dermody, Katie Nanna, the bird woman and Miss Andrew; Davin Harper, Admiral Boom and Valentine.

Also Bridgette Ridenour as Miss Lark; Carson Phillips, a policeman and Northbrook; Corbin Deitrick, park keeper and Von Hussler; Jillian Thomas, Miss Smythe and a doll; Naomi Sitas, Queen Victoria; McKenna Trimpe, Fannie; Shiloh Smith, Annie; Betsy Gavin, Teddy Bear; and Payton Scott and Korrah Luers-Hammes, dancers.

Tickets for the play are on sale now — $10 for adults, $8 for students. They can be purchased online at williamsburg.ludus.com

Showtimes are Thursday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at Williamsburg High School auditorium, 810 W. Walnut St.

Follow the Williamsburg Music Association Facebook page for more information.