Mary Poppins

Even fussy Mary Poppins herself would have to admit that the Woodland Opera House’s production of her namesake musical was spit-spot, from the massive moveable sets to the opulent costumes.

Jori Gonzales is a delightful Mary Poppins, the enigmatic nanny who arrives just in the nick of time to help the Banks family. She has a warm relationship with the children, takes no prisoners in the discipline department, yet kicks up a heel or two with chimney sweep Bert (F. James Raasch).

Raasch is new to Woodland and a great addition to the company. He has a powerful voice and dances up a storm, particularly in the show-stopping “Step in Time” on the rooftops of London with the other chimney sweeps.

Real life brother and sister Marley and D.J. Michel play the Banks children and are on stage almost all the time. Parents George and Winifred are played by real life husband and wife Jeremy and Tamalisa Carlson.

Special mention to Lenore Sebastian as Miss Andrew, Mr. Banks’ old nanny, with a face scary enough to frighten adults and a voice loud enough to rattle the opera house walls.

This is a big, big show, but handled skillfully by the Woodland Opera house, under the direction of Angela Baltezore.