Review: 'Mary Poppins' by Blessed Sacrament Children's Theatre

All photos by Derek Ward

This year’s performances of MARY POPPINS are dedicated to Mr. Pete Valenti, a long-time loyal supporter of BSCT

Waterbury, CT - The Blessed Sacrament Children’s Theatre opened their production of MARY POPPINS The Broadway Musical on Thursday evening. The largest opening night audience ever packed the auditorium at the newly dubbed The Catholic Academy of Waterbury in order to experience the fun, the music and the flying in BSCT’s 18th production, the full Broadway version of this beloved tale.

The musical is based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film that had music and lyrics by the Sherman brothers, but the book for the show was written by Julian Fellows, with new songs and lovely additional music by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. It was co-created by Cameron Mackintosh.

Be forewarned that there are songs, characters and scenes that are quite different from the film version with Julie Andrews, but much of what we have come to love from the movie are brought to life by these talented casts. I say “casts” because the production team of producer/assistant director Bob Tansley, director Ben Orlando and assistant director Pat Hearn were able to continue the tradition of double casting the vast majority of the roles in the show with equally talented young performers. The Bert Cast had the honor of performing on Thursday’s opening night, but I was able to catch the Mary Cast, which will get to do the closing performance on Sunday, at their final dress rehearsal.

As a child, the Blessed Sacrament Children’s Theater sparked in me the lifelong passion that I hold for theater. My first role as the Scarecrow in THE WIZARD OF OZ set me on this winding and wonderful journey that has guided my career to this moment. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would return to the place where it all started, much less sit in the director’s chair, taking the place of the man that I most admire. I would to thank Bob Tansley for being an incomparable mentor, father figure, and friend. - Ben Orlando

Ben Orlando has been choreographing the BSCT musicals since 2013, but this year he stepped up to both choreograph and direct the production. He pulled it off in every way and Mr. Tansley could not be more proud of him. They also took a chance on a new 18-year-old musical director named Marc Sokolson and in the words of Mr. Tansley “turned out to be a home run.” Under Mr. Sokolson’s direction, the orchestra, made up of mostly young musicians, sounded “practically perfect in every way.”

Because I have previously posted the bios of the leads, I will not include previous credits in this review. Clara Pizzolorusso did very well as the somewhat prickly Mary Poppins; she maintained a fine carriage and British accent and sang beautifully. She shares the role with the lovely Maura Kahuda in the Mary Cast, a young actress who has a wonderful stage presence and perfect singing voice. Iggy Bono played the role of Bert with the Bert Cast and nailed the Cockney accent and charmed the audience. His counterpart in the Mary Cast is the talented Michael Meier, who is able to sing wonderfully and dance just as well in what will be his eighth and final role with BSCT.

Eddie Bono was adorable in the role of the naughty Michael Banks and his formidable counterpart is Maddie Roberts with the Mary Cast. I was proud to see Logan Altenburger in the role of Jane Banks; she shares the role of Michael’s sister with Lilyana Bodnar of Naugatuck.

Kitan Arole, a newcomer to BSCT, did well as Mrs. Banks. Her counterpart is the fabulous Claire Roberts, who also is marking her final production with this company. I look forward to seeing both of these ladies in other venues. Kalman Zold was charged with playing the role of the stuffy Mr. Banks with both casts and he performed well.

Sarah Medeiros gracefully plays the statue Neleus with both casts. Grace-Marie embraced the role of the “holy terror” nanny Miss Andrew and scared just about everyone with her performance. She shares the role with Maria Tapanes in the Mary Cast. Maggie Bono sang with conviction “Feed the Birds” as the Bird Woman; she shares the featured role with WAMS student Makayla Labbe.

James Rinaldi took on the role of butler Robertson Ay; he shares it with Nicholas Bates. Mallory Swindon of Naugatuck played the big character of shop owner Mrs. Corry; she shares the featured role with her older sister Kaitlyn Swindon and both must balance a tall and colorful wig.

Sydney Jason covered the role of the Banks’ cook/housekeeper Mrs. Brill and Regina Watkins shares the role. Maria Bueno was the graceful living doll Valentine and Sofia Alonzo shares the role.

Please note that when the actor is not playing their leading role, they appear in the ensemble, requiring them to learn even more during rehearsal. See if you can pick them out during the ensemble number of their opposite cast.

Kudos to the outstanding tappers in the Bert Cast: Maura Kahuda (when she is not wearing shoes of the sensible kind as Mary,) Michael Meier, Abigail O’Connor, Ashlyn Pierce, Claire Roberts, Kaitlyn Swindon, "Buzz Lightyear," Ashley Harris, and Lilyana Bodnar. I can assure you that the Mary Cast tap dancers are just as talented and include Iggy Bono, Felicity Van Stone, Ashlyn Pierce, Clara Pizzolorusso (ditto what I said about the other Mary,) Mallory Swindon, Grace Sevelowitz, Grace Pinkerton and Logan Altenburger. The brave adult tappers include Sean Marcil, Shannon Denihan, fundraising chair Melissa Buonato, Mark Tortora, Tom Van Stone, Theo Sevilla, Ashley Harris (yes, with both casts) and Tom Denihan. “Step in Time” was definitely a highlight of both performance that I attended, as was the one with the “super” long title.

Shout outs to each and every member of the ensemble, many of whom played toys that come alive in the nursery, and especially to the tiniest members of the cast referred to as “the littles.” One of my favorite moments of the evening was watching Mr. Orlando and his sister encouragingly direct the youngest performers from the side of the house with love. Most of their names are listed here.

Of course, the BSCT alumni that return each year to serve as the stage crew, or “backstage ninjas,” worked together perfectly. It is great to see these familiar faces helping out the young ones who have replaced them on the stage now that they have aged out of the roles on the stage. The set changes are long and complicated, but they pulled it off whether the curtain was open or shut. Flying by Foy made sure that Mary, Miss Andrew and Bert were able to fly above the stage convincingly and safely. Kudos to those actors that are required to fly, although at least one had done so in PETER PAN.

I thought that the sound by ALSS was not as good as it has been in the past; I had trouble making out many of the lines, especially with the fine British accents of the actors. Perhaps this was because I sat in the back row, because the lighting designed by Robyn Joyce was stellar, featuring an array of lighted stars when needed. Costumes designed by Debbie Forchielli with the help of wardrobe/seamstresses Elaine Brodeur, Anne Calabro and Christina Watkins were up to the usual BSCT standards. And the set designed by Terri Thompson once again hit all the right notes in the right places, to make a musical metaphor. Shout out to the lovely Dani Orlando, who served as volunteer coordinator, makeup and dialect coach, and made sure I was able to see both casts.

On a side note, the new principal of The Catholic Academy of Waterbury is Christa Szantyr Chodkowski, who happened to be one of Mr. Tansley’s first Annies at St. Mary School in 1993 when Monsignor Bevins played the role of Daddy Warbucks. It is good to know that she will most likely offer her support to upcoming BSCT productions; next year Mr. Tansley will once again direct ANNIE!

Go see this “Practically Perfect” and definitely magical production. It runs July 26 at 7pm, July 27 at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday, July 28 at 1pm and 6pm. Parking is available in a couple of lots, but there is also some street parking in the area of the church. The auditorium is air conditioned and there is both folding chair and bleacher seating available for open seating. Concessions are available before the show and during the intermission and check out the many advertisers and shout outs in the program designed by Mr. Tansley while the house lights are on.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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