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Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
United States
Indiana
Indianapolis, IN

Beef & Boards 'Mary Poppins' "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

by Rita Kohn
May 22, 2014
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
9301 N. Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
317-872-9664
This review was originally published in NUVO Newsweekly, Indianapolis, IN.

Rita Kohn is a member of the Board of the Dance Critics Association.
It's a jolly, feisty interlude at Beef & Boards with "Mary Poppins" directed by Eddie Curry, who equally brings the range of his considerable talent into play as George Banks.

Fast-paced, high-stepping dance numbers choreographed by Ron Morgan, smartly executed by the full company, together with B&B's signature clarity of diction for songs and dialogue make this 80-year-old story by P. L. Travers fresh and relevant.

You'll leave with a smile on your face, a song on your lips and your head full of aphorisms to live by—"There are more important things in life than making money." "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." "Anything can happen if you let it." And, young people in the audience, take note lest you become the bane of parents and teachers alike—the sassy, smart-aleck kid summed up with a knowing sigh by Ms Poppins: "It's so hard to teach a child who knows everything."

In the end, the up-down fortunes of the Banks family ruled by a rigid, smug, class-conscious-patriarch returns to 'up' after Mr. Banks recognizes "The things that really matter I lost along the way," and embraces the values of being a loving, respecting husband and father AND compassionate businessman.

"Making money out of money? Sir, what is your product?" he smartly demands from a schemer. Why has this pertinent measure gotten lost in how we deal with capital?

There's neither a widget we can use nor worthy labor we can admire in speculative money trading. And there's certainly nothing worthy in pursuing status at the expense of building a cohesive family and community.

Beef & Board's production recognizes silliness is the 'spoonful of sugar' on the way to gaining wisdom and what most matters is often expressed by the least 'important' among us—"Money?" intones The Bird Woman. "The value is in how you spend it."

So go to enjoy fine performances by Buddy Reeder as Bert, Heather Patterson King as Mrs. Banks, Kennedy Martin as Jane, Logan Sejas as Michael, Chelsea Leis as Bird Woman and Katie Nanna, Michael Davis as the Policeman, Sally Scharbrough as Miss Lark, Jeff Stockberger as Admiral Boom and in his inimitable ability to be anyone, as the Bank Chairman, Kelly Teal Goyette as Mrs. Brill, Colin Lee as Park Keeper, Peter Scharbrough as Von Hussler, Sean Zia as Northbrook, Suzanne Stark as Mrs. Cory and Miss Andrew, and particularly sterling portrayals by Colin Lee doubling as Robertson Ay and as the statue-come-life — Neleus [son of Poseidon] and Cara Statham Serber as Mary Poppins.

Kari Baker, Lauren Morgan, Timmy Hays and Blake Patrick Spellacy add to the buoyancy and sparkle as the Ensemble particularly in the rousing "Step in Time" and fun-filled "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

Michael Layton's scenic design and Jill Kelly's costumes dazzle; Ryan Koharchik's lighting, Daniel Hesselbrock's sound design and Bill Mollencupp's technical direction and Terry Woods' musical direction are spot-on. A nod too to the orchestra—Kristy Templet, keyboard; Dave Coleson, trumpet; Dorothy McDonald, woodwinds; Terence Mayhue, percussion. Stage manager Elizabeth Stark earns a bow for swift segues requiring split-second scene and costume changes.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis; through June 29, 2014; tickets: 317-872-9664; more at: beefandboards.com.

Beef & Boards, in a season marking anniversaries including "Anything Goes" 80th and "Fiddler on the Roof" 50th with "Mary Poppins" is the first Indiana professional theatre to perform the musical and celebrate the 80th anniversary since publication of the first "Mary Poppins" book, 50th for the Disney film, and 10th for the musical which opened 2004 in London's West End Bristol Hippodrome. The Broadway debut was November 16, 2006 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Cara Statham Serber plays the title role in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Cara Statham Serber plays the title role in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.


Buddy Reeder plays the man-of-all-trades, Bert, in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Buddy Reeder plays the man-of-all-trades, Bert, in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.


The Bird Woman (Chelsea Leis) sings 'Feed the Birds' in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

The Bird Woman (Chelsea Leis) sings "Feed the Birds" in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.


Mary Poppins (Cara Statham Serber) and Bert (Buddy Reeder) show Jane (Kennedy Martin) and Michael (Logan Sejas) a new perspective in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Mary Poppins (Cara Statham Serber) and Bert (Buddy Reeder) show Jane (Kennedy Martin) and Michael (Logan Sejas) a new perspective in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.


Mr. Banks (Eddie Curry) discovers the joy of being a father to his two children, Jane (Kennedy Martin) and Michael (Logan Sejas) with a little help from an uncanny nanny in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Mr. Banks (Eddie Curry) discovers the joy of being a father to his two children, Jane (Kennedy Martin) and Michael (Logan Sejas) with a little help from an uncanny nanny in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's current production of Mary Poppins, now on stage through June 29. As Beef & Boards' 2014 Family Show, Mary Poppins offers $10 discounts off tickets for all kids ages 3-15. All tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly buffet and select beverages. For tickets, call the box office at 317.872.9664. For more information and complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

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