Rehearsing for Shekinah’s production of “Mary Poppins Jr.” are: (from left) Max Kilzer, Joshua Showalter, Anna Pratt, Samuel Chrysler, Rebecca Grissom and Malia Schrader.
(Posted April 16, 2018)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Shekinah Christian School’s upcoming production of the musical, “Mary Poppins Jr.,” promises to be–you guessed it–supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
The tale follows Mary Poppins (played by junior Anna Pratt), a nanny hired to wrangle two precocious and mischievous children, Michael and Jane Banks (fifth-grader Max Kilzer and junior Rebecca Grissom).
Through common sense and magical adventure, Mary wins over the entire family, including George (senior Samuel Chrysler), an uptight banker and strict father, and Winifred (junior Malia Schrader), a former actress trying to be the perfect wife and mother.
Bert (junior Joshua Showalter), Mary’s good-natured friend and jack-of-all-trades, watches over the children, too, and narrates the story.
All totaled, Shekinah’s cast features 35 students, up from about 20 for last year’s musical. To accommodate the larger group, director Julie Pratt arranged for an extension of the school’s stage. The space also allows room for more intricate set pieces, including a rotating rooftop.
Pratt is excited for audiences to see the show, which she picked for its familiarity and its whimsy.
“It’s just such a fun show with so many good songs– ‘Jolly Holidays,’ ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite,’ ‘Spoonful of Sugar,’ and, yes, everyone in the cast is excited about ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,’ ” she said.
That song with the long, fantastical name? It comes with iconic but complicated choreography.
“An (easier) alternate is provided, but we decided to tackle the original choreography and the students are doing well,” Pratt said.
One of many other laugh-provoking scenes comes with “Spoonful of Sugar,” in which the bumbling butler, Robertson Ay (played by sophomore Joel Headings), is left alone to monitor the children and doesn’t fare well. Physical comedy abounds.
The public has several opportunities to take in all that is “Mary Poppins Jr.,” including a dinner theater set for 6 p.m. April 19. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance.
Additional showings are set for 7 p.m. April 20-21 and 3 p.m. April 22. Pre-sale tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Ticket prices increase to $10 and $7, respectively, at the door. The family price (five members or more) is $25.
Tickets can be purchased at the school, 10040 Lafayette-Plain City Road, Plain City, from any cast member, or online at www.showtix4u.com.
For more information, call (614) 873-3130 or visit www.shekinahchristian.org.
