‘Mary Poppins’ to take flight at Weston Friendly Society

 

Everyone’s favorite nanny will take to the stage as “Mary Poppins, the Broadway Musical” opens April 18 at the Weston Friendly Society of the Performing Arts.

Set in England in 1910, Mary Poppins arrives at the home of Jane and Michael Banks, where, with common sense and a bit of magic, she teaches the family how to value one another.

Memorable adventures are in store for Jane and Michael, as Mary Poppins, often joined by Bert, a chimney sweep, takes them on romps across the countryside.

Favorite songs from the 1964 film, including “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Spoonful of Sugar” and “Feed the Birds” will also be on tap, along with some new ones.

The musical, developed by Cameron Mackintosh, is based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney film.

Viewers may be familiar with the movie, but Colleen Locke, executive producer of the Weston Friendly Society board of directors and stage manager for “Mary Poppins,” said new songs and new characters have been added to the musical from the book.

Weston Friendly has also made some changes, most notably adding more children to the cast.

“It’s really part of our mission to get families of all ages able to participate in theater,” Locke said.

While it is not possible to make Mary Poppins fly as she did in the movie, Locke said there will be a few surprises and, perhaps, even a little magic.

“Some unexpected things might happen with a little snap of the fingers,” she said.

A talented bunch

The Weston Friendly Society opened in 1885 and is the second oldest theater group in the United States.

They typically produce two main stage musicals every year and a children’s production, Locke said. This year they are introducing a Play Lab for Weston’s fourth and fifth graders.

Locke, who moved to Massachusetts in 2010, has been involved with the theater since 2013, both onstage and offstage.

Several new board members have been added to the Society’s roster this year.

“We try to keep an infusion of creative energy,” she said.

People come from all over Massachusetts to be part of the productions, she said.

“A beautiful thing about Weston Friendly – we get a lot of folks who have been with the group before and we also welcome a lot of new folks who have heard that we do solid productions,” Locke said.

What really makes the theater successful, though, is the talent.

“You can’t keep it going without the talent and I’m not talking [just] about acting talent but I’m also talking about behind the scenes,” Locke said.

Fun and family take center stage

Hollis Sullivan, director of “Mary Poppins,” has been involved with the Weston Friendly Society for 50 years.

The Weston native began when she was in high school, working backstage while her parents were in the show.

“I think I have worked in some capacity in over 40 shows,” Sullivan said.

She credits the people involved with the theater and the fun they have for her longevity.

“It’s just fun and you make friends and you keep them. And you keep coming back to work with them, and you add new ones and go from there. I love doing shows but the people – there’s a real family feel to the group,” she said.

And “Mary Poppins” really is all about family, as evidenced by the three mother-daughter pairs who will be on stage, as well as the mother-daughter pair working behind the scenes, Locke said.

As cast director, Sullivan emphasizes fun along with hard work.

“I say ‘we are going to work hard and we’re going to have a lot of fun,’” she said.

If you go

“Mary Poppins, the Broadway Musical” will be performed at the Weston Town Hall, 11 Town House Road, in the Sears Auditorium. Shows will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 18, 24 and 25, as well as two matinees at 2 p.m. on April 19 and 25.

Tickets are $25 to $28. All seating is located on the auditorium floor, and Town Hall is accessible. Folks who need seating accommodations can contact tickets@westonfriendly.org. “Mary Poppins, the Broadway Musical” is about two and half hours long, and there will be a 15-minute intermission.