Review: MARY POPPINS at The Firehouse Theatre

Last night, at The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch, the smash-hit Disney musical MARY POPPINS opened to a packed house. With an eager cast of nineteen singers and dancers, the recently converted industrial building was overflowing with energy and enthusiasm.

As someone who's seen MARY POPPINS too many times (I briefly worked behind-the-scenes on the Broadway production), I was eager to see a fresh approach in such an intimate venue. The show's director, Derek Whitener, was wise to sidestep any attempt to match the spectacle of the original, even though the luster of Disney magic still shown through the famous and unforgettable Sherman Brothers' score.

This unique production is devoid of bright colors, keeping the costumes and scenery bathed almost entirely in sepia tones. The performers literally and figuratively perform in the shadows, adding an extra layer of soot to their faces, and mystery to their movement. While the show keeps its family-friendly façade, the tone is less Walt Disney, and perhaps a bit more Tim Burton meets SWEENEY TODD. For its lack of glitter and gold, this endearing production makes up for any shortcomings with its honest-to-goodness, old-fashioned community theatre effort.

As the dynamic duo of Mary and Bert, Kate Dressler and Michael Scott McNay are a "practically perfect" pair for each other. McNay's spin on the famous chimney sweep is a manic hybrid of Johnny Depp and Crazy Eyes (from the Orange Is The New Black series). His skills shine brightest onstage as he leads the ensemble in an impressive tap routine with "Step In Time". Dressler's Mary is similarly reinvented as a warmer, friendlier Mary than we may be used to, assumedly to contrast the overall dark emphasis of the rest of the characters. Fear not, Mary Poppins' extraordinary bag of tricks is as magical and impressive as ever.

Other highlights of the show include the sassy and soulful Marilyn Setu as Mrs. Corry; Kristal Seid, not only as the hilarious housekeeper Mrs. Brill, but as the heart-warming Bird Woman, whose voice soars in "Feed The Birds;" Eisa Danielle James' rendition of "Being Mrs. Banks"; and last, but not least, Caroline Rivera, whose comic timing and powerful voice steal every moment Miss Andrew is onstage.

Music Director Rebecca Lowrey has given the entire ensemble the necessary skills to sing with full confidence, although a bit more volume from certain microphones would better enhance the overall sound. Brandon Harvey's choreography perfectly fits the small stage, with numbers like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Step In Time" earning well-deserved ovations from the opening night crowd. Costumes, (designed by Victor Newman Brockwell) and wigs (by Logan Coley Broker) compliment Whitener's vision of the show.

Mary Poppins runs through November 22nds, 2015 at The Firehouse Theatre. Tickets are available online at www.TheFirehouseTheatre.com. For past guests of the venue, it's exciting to note that The Firehouse Theatre has recently improved their space with tiered seating and new air conditioning.

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The Firehouse Theatre's 2015-2016 season (announced this weekend) includes STEEL MAGNOLIAS, THOROUGLY MODERN MILLIE, [TITLE OF SHOW], THE FANTASTICS, SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, THE MUSIC MAN, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and THE LITTLE MERMAID.

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