Practically perfect: 'Mary Poppins' flies into Cocoa Village Playhouse

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Get ready to step in time and have a jolly holiday, because "Mary Poppins" is coming to Cocoa Village Playhouse. The beloved musical, based on the children's book series by P.L. Travers and the classic Disney film, opens April 28 for a run through May 14.

The show follows the Banks family, a typical Edwardian family in London who are in need of a nanny for the children, Jane and Michael. When Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep, she brings a spoonful of sugar, a bit of magic, and plenty of wisdom that teaches the family the importance of love and kindness.

Most people are familiar with the 1964 movie starring Julie Andrews. But Pamela Larson, director of the Cocoa Village Playhouse production, believes the stage production will make even more of a personal impact on audiences.

"'Mary Poppins' is really a story about the importance of family," Larson said. "I think (the audience) will really enjoy watching George Banks transform from a closed off patriarch to a loving father, who realizes that his family is the most important thing in his life."

The show promises to have stunning production values, including intricate set designs, colorful costumes, and dazzling special effects. Audiences can expect to be transported to early 20th-Century London. In Mary Poppins' world, anything is possible.

And yes, that includes flying and aerial tricks, which Larson believes will dazzle audiences. "There are many exciting production numbers and, of course, you don’t want to miss the flying," she said.

"As with any big musical, pulling all of the technical aspects together in a short amount of time is very challenging."

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Cocoa Village Playhouse's practice of double casting shows means not only that the production team had to produce double the costumes and wigs, but the actors had to perfect their roles with only half the rehearsal time.

The role of Mary Poppins is shared by Ashley Willsey and Dominique Hickey, both returning performers to CVP's stage. Willsey played the title role in 2017, the last time the playhouse produced "Mary Poppins."

Nathanial Knepper-Quijano and Matthew Johnson share the role of Bert, who narrates the story in the stage adaptation. Both actors are longtime members of the CVP family as well as being accomplished tap dancers.

What makes "Mary Poppins" so special is its message of family, love, and kindness. The show reminds us that even in the darkest of times, a little bit of magic and a lot of love can make everything better. It is a perfect show for families to enjoy together, with catchy tunes that are sure to have everyone singing along.

Larson thinks the show is exactly the spoonful of sugar audiences will enjoy. "We placed 'Mary Poppins' in our season lineup because there is something for people of all ages in the production.," she said. "It is uplifting and we wanted to bring happiness to our community."

"You don't want to miss this show."

If you go

'Mary Poppins'

Where: Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 14

Tickets: Start at $35

Info: 321-636-5050

On the web: cocoavillageplayhouse.com

Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.

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