Supercalifragilistic school production set to charm

STUDENTS from Geelong Lutheran College’s Armstrong Creek campus will next week bring a junior version of the beloved musical production Mary Poppins to the Geelong Arts Centre stage.

Open to all ages, the production’s four-show run will begin on Tuesday, May 14 and end on Thursday, May 15, and will feature a cast of 52 students, with two recent graduates – Mienna and Dakota – returning to assist with the show’s choreography and wardrobe.

The popular musical is based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney film of the same name and, set in London in 1910, follows the coming and going of a mysterious nanny named Mary Poppins who, with the help of her chimney sweep friend Bert, takes two mischievous yet lovable children on a whimsical adventure that teaches them important life lessons along the way.

The titular role will be played by 17-year-old Lola Fry, whose background in dance has, in recent years, helped to foster a love of musical theatre that the Year 12 student is now hoping to pursue when she finishes high school.

With big dance numbers, ambitious sets, humorous background characters and iconic songs like A Spoonful of Sugar, Step in Time and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious on the cards, she said audiences were in for a treat.

“The themes still resonate today: it’s about family, identity, being yourself and being kind,” Lola said.

“I think it’s going to be a very fun time.”

She praised the production’s hard-working backstage crew without whose support she said the show would not be possible.

For 14-year-old Archie Gaylard, who plays Bert, performing as the quirky chimney sweep is a dream come true, as he looks forward to impressing audiences with his Cockney accent.

“It’s just a charming character. It’s fun, it’s energetic, it’s different to what I’ve done. I don’t tend to do very dancey roles because it’s not my strong suit, but I’m super excited just to be getting out of my comfort zone,” he said.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, head to geelongartscentre.org.au