There are a total of thirty nine performers in this production and in true MMY style, everyone had a chance in the spotlight. I loved the fact that Harriette looked permanently worried – as Mrs Banks does - and Chris was a wonderful ‘emotionally unavailable’ father before throwing caution (and a kite) to the wind in the closing scene. I enjoyed the portrayal of Mr and Mrs Banks by Chris Bache and Harriette Robinson. Likewise, Jasmine Kennedy as Jane Banks did an excellent job and she and Seb were an endearing little double act with no precociousness in sight whatsoever. He was very cheeky, full of character and delivered some excellent lines: a classic being “she may be tricky but she’s bloody good!” (there was no warning of such profanity!!) Given his tender age, I imagine this is Seb’s first major appearance in a show and he should be very proud of himself. Seb Downing as Michael Banks was cuteness on a stick. If you’ve never seen a chimney sweep do a balletic high kick, now’s your chance! Wonderful improvisation.īert the chimney sweep was played by Reuben Williamson who was full of confidence and chirpy cockney charm and who is also an excellent dancer. At one point, Seb was struggling with his pyjama top and everyone in the audience was willing him to get his arm in the sleeve: Kathryn spotted this and made helping him put it on a part of the show, as if nothing was amiss. It was clear that she has an excellent relationship with Jasmine Kennedy and Seb Downing (Jane and Michael Banks) and I felt she had taken them under her wing and was a reassuring presence to them. She never broke a sweat, even during an awkward moment when there was a delay in a musical number beginning and she improvised wonderfully. She took everything in her stride and dealt with it – just like a capable Nanny should! I thought her characterisation was excellent and she was a joy to watch and listen to. She has a winning smile, a beautiful singing voice and an outstanding ability to cope with occasional glitches. ![]() Her portrayal of Mary Poppins was, to coin a phrase, practically perfect in every way. I don’t believe this role could have been better cast. Mary Poppins in this Manchester Musical Youth (MMY) production is played by Kathryn Stephenson and she certainly weaved her magic over the show tonight. Chris has been a singer for Celebrity Cruises, as well as overseas in Macau and Dubai.Surely everyone is familiar with the story of Mary Poppins.the magical Nanny with THAT carpet bag who appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared again after she’d weaved her magic over the sad and slightly dysfunctional Banks family. “Bert, played by Chris Duir, is both realistic and likeable,” adds Di Saggau for The River Weekly, “and when he and his fellow chimney fill the stage for ‘A Step in Time,’ it’s a tap dancing spectacular with some splendid surprises.”īroadway Palm relates that Chris is excited to make his Broadway Palm debut by returning to the role of Bert for PEG! Duir was a member of the cast in the national tour of Grease (Eugene, u/s Teen Angel) and his regional credits include Crazy For You as Bobby Child, Singin’ in the Rain as Production Tenor, The Drowsy Chaperone as George, Damn Yankees as Smokey, and CATS as Skimbleshanks. And while she’s friendly, Mary seems to keep him at arm’s length.” As a child I thought Bert and Mary were an item, but as seen in this stage production, he respects her and has a crush on her. Duir plays him more like a person than a caricature and – thank God – doesn’t overdo it with the Cockney accent. Nancy Stetson writes in her review that “Chris Duir does a great job … His Bert’s a likeable guy, not half as goofy as Van Dyke is in the movie. He has a fantastic voice, and his tap dancing in ‘Step in Time’ is not to be missed.” Of course, he also was a prominent character in many of the musical numbers of the show. “He helped the show transition from scene to scene many times, and the personality he brought to his character made each of these moments amusing. “Chris Duir … matched Whitworth’s Poppins perfectly,” writes Yorgey in her Broadway World review. ![]() He plays the part of Bert the chimney sweep, who opens the show with a tone-setting performance of “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from his perch on a chimney stack overlooking the audience, stage left. Melissa Whitworth stars as London’s magical nanny (see the reviews on her performance, below), but lending her an impressive hand in teaching Jane and Michael Banks that anything can happen if you let it is Chris Duir. Florida Weekly’s Nancy Stetson thinks it is one of the best shows she’s seen at Broadway Palm and Broadway World’s Emily Yorgey calls Mary Poppins one of the all-time best productions she’s seen anywhere, “hands down.” On stage at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater is Mary Poppins The Broadway Musical.
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