By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds
Mary Poppins Jr. presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati through October 25th. I attended an Opening Saturday matinee.
The Cast of Mary Poppins JR. presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is taking flight (quite literally!) this October with its 2026-2027 season opener: Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins JR. Based on one of the most popular Disney films as well as its Broadway musical adaptation, it tells the story of the nanny who sweeps into town to take care of business at 17 Cherry Tree Lane, home of the Banks family.
Artistic Director Roderick Justice takes the helm as Director of this romp, maintaining excellent pacing and consistent action. (It’s almost like he knows how to keep a child’s attention or something…!) Further, his curtain speeches are worth the price of admission alone. Complementing Mr. Justice’s efforts are Music Direction by Jacob Priddy and Choreography by Maddie Jones. There are some gorgeous voices in this cast and Mr. Priddy does an excellent job creating a symphony from them. With a cast of very physical artists I had high hopes for Step In Time, one of my personal favourite numbers. Unfortunately, opportunities were missed when the chorus sang the words “Kick your knees up” and…well, they really didn’t.
Scenic Design by Seth Howard is the ideal combination of straightforward and grand all at the right times. Scene changes are quite efficient and echo the ease of the changing wind in our story. Costume Design by Noelle Wedig-Johnson (executed by Resident Costume Designer Alix Frish) is precise and aesthetically pleasing, offering nods to the familiar looks of the timeless characters.
This show boasts a large ensemble of capable performing artists who work together adroitly. Particular shout-outs are due to Emma Riley in the titular role (her dialect and diction are as practically perfect as her performance); A. James Jones as Bert (boundless energy and positivity throughout); Evan Koons as Mr. Banks (he runs the gamut of emotions expertly and the mustache alone deserves an award); and to Amy Oblinger as Mrs. Brill (she is nothing short of flawless and needs to be seen on more stages). Bravx to all for the sweet spirit they embodied throughout!
Mary Poppins is a story I hold near and dear to my own heart. I spent hours on end reciting the songs from the record (as in vinyl) and I quite believe it’s one of the foremost experiences which awakened me to my gift of dialects and voices in general. While this adaptation strays a bit from the movie many of us know and love, The Children Theatre of Cincinnati’s production still holds the same magic, even for this adult! At under 70 mins, this is a great outing for the child or child at heart in your life. Just when you think all might be lost, the people who surround Cherry Tree Lane remind us that anything can happen – if you let it.
On a personal note: as I walked into the Emery Theater for the first time, my mouth was agape like a codfish. It is beautiful and detailed and thoughtful, with comfortable seats and rich colours. And I saved this moment to mention the utterly impressive stage technology and give kudos to Lightborne for its Video/Projection Design which enhances the fantasy of the live performance without serving as a distraction. I felt like a child all over again the more I looked around and I am looking forward to returning to this space.
Click here for more information about the production.
