Pacific Repertory Theatre
Mary Poppins by Pacific Repertory Theatre | Golden Bough Theatre Monte Verde between Eighth and Ninth, Carmel | (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org
It started with P.L. Travers’ series of eight books, published between 1934 and 1988, chronicling the domestic adventures of one Mary Poppins. They were adapted into a teleplay broadcast on CBS. In 1964, Disney amalgamated the books into the famous film. Then in 2003 came the stage musical by producer Cameron Mackintosh that conquered London before doing the same on Broadway. It’s equipped with a potent arsenal of sweet songs and dance numbers, is quintessentially British, and went through such creative scrutiny that the behind-the-scenes stuff warranted its own 2013 movie, Saving Mr. Banks, starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as Travers. PacRep’s version, complete with flying, tap dancing and period British costumes, starred Gracie Navaille as Mary Poppins, Rhett Wheeler as Bert the chimney sweep, Maddie Mizgorski and Lauren Mansour (on alternate shows) as Jane Banks and Samantha Scattini and Andrew Mansour as her brother Michael. It was directed by Susanne Burns, with vocal direction by Don Dally and choreography by Pamela Crane and Devin Adler. It ran from June 16-July 24, 2016, and it went down like a spoonful of sugar in the most delightful way.
Editor's note: This post has been updated to reflect the following correction. There were two actors who played each part as Jan Banks and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, appearing in alternating shows.