Let’s go fly a kite: Landmark Musicals brings the original supernanny to stage with ‘Mary Poppins’

Something is brewin’ and ’bout to begin. 

Landmark Musicals is bringing “Mary Poppins” to the University of New Mexico’s Rodey Theater on Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 29. 

Tim MacAlpine, who plays Bert, has read several of the “Mary Poppins” books, written by P.L. Travers. He said that some material borrowed for the play version is different from the Disney movie people remember.

“Some of the big classic moments from the movie that people are going to recognize are in it,” MacAlpine said. “They may be staged a little differently, but they’re there (and) the music is there.”

He said when reading the books and through rehearsals, he did not expect the depth of the emotional connection of the Banks family. 

There are wonderful production numbers and beautiful, colorful things, MacAlpine said, but underneath it, “there’s this really heartwarming family story.”

The show is dual-cast for the roles of Jane and Michael Banks.

On alternating nights, Michael Banks will be played by Hudson Giannini and Malcolm Brunton, with Nika Ivanchov and Hannah Reifsteck playing Jane Banks. 

Elora Daniels, who plays Mary Poppins, previously worked as a school administrator and taught theater classes. She said her past work helped her learn to talk to and lead children while also letting them be themselves, which is how she wanted to portray Mary Poppins.

“I really loved getting to kind of bring that to Mary Poppins and also sort of help guide our little Janes and Michaels through all the beautiful scenes I get to do with them,” Daniels said.

Daniels said when they began blocking out “Practically Perfect” in rehearsals — the song Mary Poppins sings to the children about how she is practically perfect in every way — she felt she embodied the role.  

“It was just a really magical moment,” Daniels said. “ … here she is, here’s Mary Poppins, I found her.”

MacAlpine said he felt he was embodying the role of Bert when he sang “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” with the Banks children. 

“There’s a moment in there with the kids and I really felt like I was connecting with them and that something special was about to happen,” MacAlpine said. 

When it comes to portraying Bert, MacAlpine said he draws from his own life experience. He married into a large family, with many children and grandchildren. He said when interacting with the actors for Jane and Michael, he feels like he is with his own family. 

MacAlpine said he is also doing his best to channel his inner Dick Van Dyke, the original actor for Bert in the Disney film.

“At heart, I’m a jack-of-all-trades,” MacAlpine said. “Bert allows me to play with some of those areas and enjoy it. He’s a joy.”

Show director Laurie Finnegan said during auditions she saw how Daniels and MacAlpine personified their roles.

She said when casting Mary Poppins, there was an unusual turnout because everyone wanted a chance to play her. While everyone brought something different to the auditions and callbacks, she said Daniels set herself apart. 

“It clicked at (Daniels’) readings at callback,” Finnegan said. “She was Mary Poppins.”

When it came to casting Bert, Finnegan said she had worked with MacAlpine before and knew he would be good for the role thanks to his boyish exuberance. 

“I knew his dancing abilities and his singing abilities, and I just thought, ‘Yeah, he’s our Bert,’” she said.

When Daniels heard she had been cast as Mary Poppins, she said she was shocked and overwhelmed, but has since had a lot of fun with the role.

She said singing “Jolly Holiday” is one of her favorite moments with its choreography and the way the stage turns from dreary London to bright and joyful. 

“It’s the first opportunity that the Banks children get to experience really big Mary Poppins magic,” Daniels said, “and it’s just so much fun.”

Another big moment for Daniels is taking flight in true Mary Poppins fashion. 

The show is a larger undertaking than previous Landmark Musicals. Finnegan said the production has a cast of 50, an orchestra of 15, a huge set and over 250 costumes. 

“It is massive, is the word I say to everybody, in every way imaginable.” 

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.