book: Julian Fellowes
based on the stories of P.L. Travers
new songs: George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
director: Greg Parmeter
music director: Diane Foust
choreographer: Jen Wilkinson
set design: Dillon McArdle
costume design: Mandy Parmeter
lighting design: David R. Kilpatrick
sound design: Chris Scheuermann
cast: Elizabeth Arihood; Olivia Belland; Anna Mae Beyer; Ryan Brown; MacKinley Bruemmer; Mel Carroll; Tanner Costello; Tom Desjarlais; John Divney; Christopher R. Dresen; Sheri Eimermann; Jeremiah Galvan; Brandon Harris; Maria Higgins; Connie Huebsch; Karla M. Hughes; Robert J. Jones; Joshua Kaiser; Jonathan Krocker; Sue La Crosse; Eric Leitzen; Chelsea Mann; Sean McDevitt; Joseph O'Flaherty; Scott Rathgaber; Darcy Reimler; Megan Taylor Seidel; Kristyn Taggart; Anna Taylor; Raina Thelen; Michelle Walker; Leslie Weber; Rhys Wolff
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This was my first opportunity to see this classic musical on stage and I was not disappointed.
The LaCrosse Community Theatre has consistently put on a top-notch production (all that I have seen) and this was the first production I saw in their new theatre. Everything about it was gorgeous.
One of the hardest things about seeing a show that has a more famous movie connected to it is the tendency to compare characters, performances, and direction. I'm as guilty of that as the next person and this show really was one of the harder ones to take on its own merit. I'm a long-time fan of the movie and know it pretty well.
Where this took place the most is with the character of Mary Poppins herself. Karla M. Hughes did a tremendous job with the role and had a gorgeous singing voice. But her character of Mary Poppins was much tougher, more strict Poppins than the sugar-sweet Poppins we've seen in the film. It took me a bit to accept this but once I did (maybe about half way through) it made good sense (why she took the harder edge).
All the songs and dances were fun and the chimney sweep number was truly a hit.
The scenery was very effective. A simple look making use of a turn-table was wonderful.
I was particularly impressed with the park scenes and the statues that came to life.
All in all, a well-done musical proving that LaCrosse Community Theatre is a step above the typical community theatre.
