Showtime: The musical Mary Poppins will be on stage at the Walnut Street Theatre through Jan. 4.
The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark season by putting its own spin on the enchanting family musical Mary Poppins, running through Jan. 4 on the WST Mainstage.
Based on the classic Disney film, this is the story of a mysterious nanny who magically appears at the Banks household in Edwardian London to take care of Jane and Michael Banks. Adventure abounds as she whisks them away to meet dancing chimney sweeps, shopkeepers and an array of colorful characters.
The show also features an unforgettable musical score, including the Academy Award-winning Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
No stranger to the role of Mary Poppins — or to that of a real-life nanny — is Tennessee-born Lindsey Bliven. She played the leading role in Music Theatre Wichita’s production of this classic, and was a member of the National Tour. And on her off-time, while living in New York, and in between gigs, she works as a nanny.
“Of course,” said the 20-something Bliven, “I can’t do magical things with the children I watch, or take them on fabulous journeys, but I do enjoy taking care of them and do the best I can.”
Bliven’s own fabulous journey with the world of make-believe in the theater began when she was quite young and her mother took her to see a production of Beauty and the Beast.
“The show opened my eyes to the world of theater, and I told my mom it’s just what I wanted to do,” she said. “And mom agreed to let me try.”
So with all kinds of preparatory instructions — singing, dancing, acting –- Bliven eventually followed her heart to the University of Oklahoma for some formal training. And within a very short time after graduation, she was landing roles in regional productions, and also touring with A Chorus Line.
Today, getting to play the title role of the beloved Disney character again is, for this actress, “a great honor. Growing up, I’ve watched many Disney movies and the magic they created. There’s definitely a lot of magic in Mary Poppins, and I’m thrilled that I’m able to bring it to a whole new generation of children.”
She said that in every role she plays, she tries to bring a little of herself to the character.
“That was especially easy in this role because as soon as rehearsal started, I was told to do my own thing and not to copy anyone else.”
She explained that was the easy part.
“The hard part is that there’s a lot of magic in this show, and obviously I don’t do magic. But the people who take care of that do it very well. In fact, the whole production runs like a well-oiled machine.”
Bliven admits she’s so happy to be making a living in her chosen profession.
“For me, the best part of what I do is the ability to tell stories, be part of something bigger than myself, and then be able to bring it all to a waiting and appreciative audience.” ••
Tickets for Mary Poppins range from $20 to $95. For more information, call 215–574–3550.
