By Ande Jacobson

Mary Poppins first hit London’s West End over a decade ago, and finally made it to Broadway in 2006. It toured the US in 2009, and now Peninsula Youth Theatre (PYT) is bringing this charming, and lively, tale to you. The show draws elements from the original stories by P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, but it’s not exactly the same.

Mary Poppins is still the “practically perfect” nanny to Jane and Michael Banks, but her charges are more mischievous than we remember. Many of the Sherman Brothers’ musical favorites are still here such as “Feed the Birds”, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”, “Spoonful of Sugar”, “Supercaligragilisticexpialidocious”, and “Chim-chiminey”, but there is also quite a bit of new music written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Even some of the old favorites are recast in different locations and at different points in the story.

Even though some of the story has been changed a bit from the film, the magic of live theatre will still bring you to the London rooftops, and the Banks household that Mary turns upside down (in a very good way). This is a show that will delight the entire family.

The creative staff includes: Meg Fischer (Director), Stacy Levin (Vocal Director), Brian Miller (Choreographer), Nick Kenrick (Orchestra Director), Jerry Enos (Set Designer), Derek Duarte (Lighting Designer), and Shioban Thill (Stage Manager).

The show is double cast, headed by Quincy Shaindin and Talia Gloster as Bert; Chris Gough and Hannah Milon as George Banks; Hannah Elisofon and Véronique Plamondon as Winnifred Banks; Grace Gormley and Nina Crofts as Jane Banks; Kavan Bhatia and Kyle Vetter as Michael Banks; and of course Kate Lincoln and Freya Forstall as Mary Poppins.

Maestro Kenrick’s live orchestra includes: Amanda Ku, Bob Sunshine (Keyboard); Rob Gloster, Madeleine Graham (Cello); Andrew Lawrence (Bass); Bob Wylie (Percussion); Ande Jacobson, Ron Miller (Reeds); Cliff Mercer, Brian Kilgore (Trumpet); Kyla Santana (Trombone); and Jim Deloach, Grant Lucas (Horn).

All performances take place at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts located at 500 Castro Street in Mountain View. See the Mary Poppins info site for more information and to order tickets. The show continues through Sunday, 13 March 2016, so act fast to catch this one before the chain breaks, and Mary Poppins flies away for the last time (for now at least).

(Photo courtesy of PYT)