Tamaqua Drama Club presents ‘Mary Poppins’

utting on a production featuring someone who is “practically perfect in every way” is an ambitious undertaking, possibly the most ambitious play the Tamaqua Area Drama Club has performed under adviser/director Adriane Drum.

While the musical “Mary Poppins” challenges its cast with multiple costume changes, an extensive song library and tap dancing, it’s the point when main characters Mary Poppins and chimney sweep Bert fly above 1910 London that reinforces the magic of the tale.

The play can be done without the actual flight, but Drum was determined that an actual flight would be part of the performance. Thankfully, the school administration approved the use of the flying apparatus, which was provided by Flying by Foy.

The show features a cast of 64, with an additional 30 students serving as stage hands, costumers and makeup artists, as well as approximately 30 parent volunteers.

For anyone not familiar with Mary Poppins, the play tells the tale of the Banks Family and the magical nanny who arrives to help the children re-connect with their father, whose work keeps him quite busy, too busy to pay attention to his children. Poppins is portrayed by Emily Barrett, 11th grade; sophomore Nathaniel Noftz fills the role of Bert; fifth-grader Denny Krell is Michael Banks; Grace Kinder, seventh grade, is Jane Banks; freshman David Hull is the somewhat surly George Banks; and senior Emma Hock is the gentle Winnifred Banks.

Several elementary school students are also included in the cast.

Additional featured cast members include: Detrick Borden, Liam Borden, Zachery Frie, Amy Hadesty, Jessica Koscak, Alexxa Kowalski, Claire Lewis, Talia Lewis, Sarah Martinez, Kipp Tonkin, Ethan Turrano and Jonathan Ulicny.

Behind the scenes, in addition to Drum, are: Geraldine Gardiner, scenic design; Erika Cassell, choreographer and assistant director; Ruth Gardiner, stage manager; Greg Semanco, sound technician; Amy Delpais, marketing director; Laurie Miller, costumer; and Colleen Barrett, who has been teaching the cast to tap dance for months.

Performances will be held at 7 p.m., Friday; and at noon and 7 p.m. Saturday in the Tamaqua Area School District Auditorium.

Tickets are $8.

The walls of the auditorium will be fluttering with dozens of kites crafted by first-grade students in Tamaqua and West Penn Elementary Schools.

Additional assistance is being provided by Ralph Richards of Charles X. Block’s; Casey Lutz Photography; Frank Fabrizio Videography; John Buglio, TASD music director; Bob Livingston Graphic Designs; and the Drama Mamas and Papas.

A number of area restaurants will provide free meals to the cast and crew on Saturday between performances and after the final curtain call.