“Mary Poppins Jr.” performed by Special Gifts Theatre

**** For the past several years, my readers and radio listeners ( WCPT820 Sundays 1-2 p.m.) have heard me talk about an organization with which I am involved. The organization is Special Gifts Theatre ( www.specialgiftstheatre.org ). From the first production that I watched, I was swallowed up by the work that the organization has been doing for ( now) 25 years to aid people with special gifts the ability to “Dream, Believe and Achieve.”. Parents and grandparents are able to see their families do things that are filled with creativity. The play is the thing and the getting from tryouts to production is the challenge that they all take on.

Today, the start of the 26th year of SGT was one where they had two productions on one day with two uniquely different casts. The number of performers is growing and with the help of each community served, SGT will work to fill the needs of each area and community, as they did today. The production that I watched was the 4 p.m. edition of “Mary Poppins Jr.” at the Skokie School located in Winnetka. The versions they produce are shorter than one might expect ranging from 6o minutes to as long as 85 or 90. While there are no intermissions, there are a few areas where either a member of SGT speaks to the audience or a video might be shown. This allows the performers to do what they might need to do for the next scene.

Often, several performers will take on the same role as there are more performers than roles, and isn’t it great that this is so. It is fairly easy to follow who is who as the costumes offer some assistance. The performers have “mentors” who have worked with them from day 1, so those people dressed in black carrying scripts are a major part of the production. For the most part, you will not notice them, but know that they offer some security to the performers, and they are having fun. The tech people and costume people as well as the props people are all part of the fun in making this all a reality. I offer you a pair of tickets for any of their performances, on me. Just send a text to 312-550-1092 and ask for a pair of tix- SGT.

Now, on to the performance. Again, I attended the 4 p.m. performance.  As stated earlier, several performers take on the same role, I will begin with those who are only played by one actor. Justice Peters-Farell, Lucy Walsh, Bert played by Jacob Veliciu ( a bright light on this performer ( looks like he has some experience) and in the Junior production they have split the role to add a Kurt ( played to perfection by Matthew Orybkiewicz). George Banks was deftly handled by Sean Breen and his sife, Winnie by Hope Michelotti. The children, Michael ( played by Lee Kaufman and Jay Slotnick) and Jane ( Robyn Gray and Maggie Johnson) were terrific and Mary Poppins was played to perfection by Colleen Altman and Alexa Donofrio, with Altman also doing the onscreen voiceover/narrations. FYI each side of the stage has all the lines on them so no-one loses anything of the script or songs. The rest of the cast is composed of :Katie Livingston, Marty McLaughlin and Rachel Palmer.

If you were to ask me to describe this sterling production, I would have to say it is “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious“.

To see the remaining schedule of plays and venues, visit www.specialgiftstheatre.org