When members of the cast found out they were performing “Mary Poppins” as Cherry Hill West’s spring musical, many of them thought it would be just like the Disney film.
Not only is the musical different, however. The cast believes the audience will enjoy their performance even more than the film.
Cherry Hill High School West will perform its spring musical “Mary Poppins” beginning on Friday, March 20. The show runs through March 28 at Cherry Hill West’s new auditorium.
Cherry Hill West was one of the first high schools in the area to get the amateur rights to the musical version of “Mary Poppins” when they were released last year. Upon seeing the script, the cast realized the musical has many differences from the film they were familiar with.
“It’s more of an adaptation of the book than the movie,” said senior Rachel Beresin, one of two actors double-cast as Winifred Banks. “There’s a lot of elements that aren’t in the movie.”
“The play doesn’t move quite as fast,” said senior Robert Petroski, who is playing the role of Bert. “The movie, it’s one thing after another. The play takes it’s time with everything.”
Putting on a show such as “Mary Poppins” requires quite a few special effects. Petroski will get the chance to walk upside down in mid-air during one number, while additional numbers will have junior Brooke Burns and Kaylee Mattoon flying above the ground. The pair have been double-cast in the lead role of Mary Poppins.
Petroski said he’s excited to get a chance to walk upside down on stage as he performs “Step in Time.”
“They keep asking me if I still want to do it, but I’m really not worried,” Petroski said.
“That ‘Step in Time’ number is a show-stopper,” producer Carole Roskoph said. “It was on Broadway, it was in Philadelphia and it absolutely will be here.”
Director Carolyn Messias said creating these effects properly will be a challenge, but feels it will pay off when the show opens.
“It’s the Disney magic that you have to create for this type of show,” she said.
Cherry Hill West is also creating a traveling show set to use for the show. Messias said the set is more elaborate than sets from past shows, which presents an additional challenge.
The challenges have gone beyond the special effects. Messias said the music and dance numbers have been some of the most difficult they’ve attempted in recent years.
Mattoon said some of the songs she has to sing as Mary Poppins have been a real challenge vocally.
“Mary Poppins has some really high notes,” she said. “It’s a good challenge, because now I know what I’m capable of.”
Some of the students were thrust into challenging roles. Senior Michela Hall is the other actress cast as Winifred Banks along with Beresin. She said the character is completely different than any she’s portrayed in the past.
“I’m used to playing someone very young and sassy,” Hall said. “Being a nurturer, a mother, it’s kind of like I don’t know what to do.”
Beresin said playing a motherly role is something she’s been asked to do in the past.
“I’m used to playing mothers,” Beresin said. “I’m usually cast as the mother.”
Hall said she and Beresin are good friends and have worked together to portray Winifred Banks as best as they can.
This is the first show since Cherry Hill West performed “Wizard of Oz” in 2010 where middle school students are part of the cast. Students from Cherry Hill’s middle schools have been cast to play the child roles in the play.
“It’s good for the high school kids to work with the middle school kids,” Messias said. “It’s been great for the middle school kids to work with the high school kids. For me, it’s been really nice bringing together the whole district for the show.”
Even though the cast and crew have many challenges still to face prior to opening night, they think the audience will be blown away when they come to see the show. Roskoph said the cast and crew has gotten tons of support from Principal Kwame Morton and the administration. It has given them confidence that the show will be one of the best Cherry Hill West has put on in recent years.
“When audiences leave the show, on March 20, 21 and 22, we want them to come back the next weekend, and we want them to go out and tell everybody,” Roskoph said.
“Mary Poppins” will be performed on March 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and March 22 and 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for student and senior citizens. The school is also hosting a character breakfast for families on March 22 at 11:30 a.m. For $20 per person, guests can have breakfast, meet the cast and get a ticket to the afternoon’s matinee.
For information on how to purchase tickets, call (856) 663–8006 ext. 1224 or visit www.chwtheater.wordpress.com.
