Mary Poppins takes flight on Walton Arts Center stage

FAYETTEVILLE — Things can get more than a little crazy when Mary Poppins is around.

The audience found that out Tuesday night (April 17), when the touring production of Mary Poppins opened at the Walton Arts Center. Performances, which last about two and a half hours, continue through Sunday.

The musical was produced by Disney and Cameron Macintosh (he knows what he’s doing, having produced Les Miserables, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera). This musical is based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney film that starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

Mary Poppins appears after the Banks children, Jane and Michael, write their own ad for a new nanny. The insolent youngsters have run off all previous nannies. She is demanding in her own way, but she only has the best interests of the children, and the Banks family, in mind. She tries to encourage them all that anything can happen if they let it.

George Banks, played by Michael Dean Morgan, is a crotchety husband and father who has trouble showing softness toward his wife or children. Winifred Banks, his wife, played by Elizabeth Broadhurst, is a former actress who now fills the role of wife and mother.

Mr. Banks, a bank loan officer, is consumed with his job and providing for his family. Through several instances, family members learn about the value of money, dignity and humanity.

As nanny, Mary Poppins also seeks to heal the emotional divide between the family members. The house at 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London is quite magical. For one, the set piece that is the home of the Banks family opens up and unfolds like a giant doll house. The entire thing swivels around to open up into the kitchen.

There were thrills to delight young and old: Mary Poppins pulled a hat stand, mirror and potted plant from her bottomless carpetbag. Park statues came to life and danced. During a chaotic kitchen scene, the table split in two and shelves of dishes collapsed — but then were magically restored by Mary Poppins. (“A Spoonful of Sugar” cures many things.)

In a scene that could be disturbing to younger audience members, life-size versions of the Banks children’s toys danced and sang about being mistreated. Fog added to the dark mood.

In an absolutely fun scene, a shop magically appeared in the park, and the children discovered a new word: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

With wonderful choreography, the cast sang the song — even spelling out the whole word, and singing in round. As Mary Poppins, Rachel Wallace was bright, smart, sassy and no-nonsense, and she sang beautifully.

Case Dillard starred as her friend, Bert, a jack-of-all-trades including chimney sweep. (Dillard, a native of Little Rock, was part of the original Broadway company of the musical and was part of the first national tour.) With a Cockney accent, Dillard portrayed Bert as fun, silly, lovable and sincere.

Q. Smith played the bird woman in the park and Miss Andrew, the nanny for Mr. Banks who showed up to help with his children. She portrayed both roles — extreme opposites — wonderfully, and she wielded her powerful vocals splendidly. And Tregoney Shepherd, who played Mrs. Brill, the Banks’ cook, was a stitch.

The pace of the show seemed slow at times, but that’s probably best for the children in the audience who might be seeing a major production for the first time. There was a lot happening visually in this show, including a flying Mary Poppins (thanks to a harness and cables).

The best song and dance number came in the second act of this show. For “Step in Time,” chimney sweeps filled the stage, joining Mary Poppins, Bert and the children on a rooftop, for a solidly choreographed number. It was just the right thing at just the right time. And it offered a delightful surprise.

For all of the serious issues it touched on, this show was, at times, very bright and almost naive — simply saccharin sweet. But sometimes, you need a little bit of sugar.