Perry Players staging magical ‘Mary Poppins’
For those precocious enough to know how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Perry Players is the place to be.
Young and old can experience the magic of “Mary Poppins” as the theater brings its biggest show ever to the stage.
Director Hunter Hufnagel saw the play in 2010 at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta and ranked it as one of the best live shows he’s ever seen.
“I sat in that theater and looked around. I saw not just kids but adults, everyone, was in awe. They were enchanted,” he said.
Hufnagel wanted to bring that same wonderment to theater-goers in Middle Georgia.
Because of the popularity of the musicals Perry has done previously, with sellout crowds for both “The Addams Family” and “A Christmas Carol,” this show will have 13 performances.
“We wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to see it,” Hufnagel said.
The musical is not the 1964 film version but holds true to the Disney magic.
The Broadway version opened in London in 2004 with a new twist on an old favorite. In this version there is a villain, and the show has the typical Disney flair.
Playing the beloved Mary is Holly Goodman, who has been performing on stage since she was 7 years old.
Filling the black Victorian lace-up boots of actress Julie Andrews was a big job for Goodman.
“I try to remember to make her my own character,” she said, although some of her inspiration does come from the much-loved Andrews.
Familiar favorites like “A Spoon Full of Sugar” and “Chim Chim Cher-Ee” are just some of the musical numbers in the play.
Goodman’s favorite song to perform is “Jolly Holiday,” as it is all about the title character.
Because of the scope of the play, Hufnagel has eight costumers who have worked on the costumes and five people who are spearheading the set. Even the lobby has been updated as Perry Players heads into its 35th year of bringing theater to the community.
“There’s never a dull moment. You can’t prepare yourself for what you’re going to see,” Hufnagel said.
“Mary Poppins”
When: 7:30 p.m. July 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30; 1:30 p.m. July 16 and 23; 2:30 p.m. July 17 and 24
Where: Perry Players Community Theatre, downtown Perry
Cost: $20 adults; $18 for children, military and seniors 60 years old and above; groups of 10 or more are $18 each.
Information: www.perryplayers.org or call 478-987-5354.
This story was originally published July 10, 2016 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Perry Players staging magical ‘Mary Poppins’."