Performances remaining Fri.-Sun., 7/29-8/8; Thurs., 7/30 & 8/6 at the Richter Theater

By Sarah Opdahl

The Musicals at Richter outdoor theater experiences, nestled on the grounds of the Richter Arts Center and Golf Course in the Aunt Hack area of Danbury, continue to delight with their latest production, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins. The show follows the magical journey of the Banks family and their remarkable new nanny in early 1900s London. Adding to the excitement of the show, there are local performers in the cast who are ready to entertain, including the incredibly talented Sherman resident and New Fairfield High School alum, Helen Seda, in the lead role. Kate Kovacs, who recently directed the NFHS spring musical, is also at the helm of the production.

Seda, a musical theater student at Naugatuck Valley Community College, remarked that playing the role has “been extremely rewarding but also quite intimidating! Mary Poppins is so beloved, and I really hope that in my portrayal of her character I do justice to the character everyone knows and loves and has grown up with. My cast mates are a dream— I’ve truly met some remarkable people this year, and I’m especially proud of the younger/teen ensemble.” Kovacs concurs, saying, “I’m extremely proud of this cast and crew and all their hard work.” She is thrilled that her vision, imbued with landing the incredible sense of magic, came to life.

A veritable romp, the show has no shortage of magic, in fact, with Kovacs describing “several scenes that feature pretty interesting technical moments, and there is a lot of thought and effort going into making those moments.” She added with a wink, “You’ll never guess how Mary flies.” Seda loves “the duality of this story, how it showcases both the intensely fantastical and the shockingly real.” Insightfully, she added, “I think at some point in everyone’s life, there is something that makes it feel less mundane, someone that makes you realize something about your life and yourself that you never noticed before. As children, sometimes you need that extra push to let love and wonder in, and you need an example through experience in order to really understand what that means. As we grow older, it is so easy to lose sight of those lessons we have learned in love and compassion as kids. We become bitter and resentful and stressed, losing sight of what is truly important to you, like creativity, family, or simply feeling joy.”

Given that this is the second show of the Musicals at Richter season, Seda pointed out the challenges for the cast and crew. “We are mostly working with an idea of what our set will look like because the stage is reserved and set up for the show that is going on first. It’s really a testament to the strength of everyone’s imagination when we are staging,” she said. Kovacs, in her first experience in outdoor theater direction, explained, “I knew directing in an outdoor venue would present a number of challenges. I’ve never had to deal with rain being an issue or smoky air being a reason to cancel a show.” However, “Despite the hot and sweaty rehearsals and occasional sunburn, I thoroughly enjoyed this Al fresco experience!” From a cast member’s perspective, Seda said, “It’s sometimes a challenge to trust that everything will come together, because the moment the weather doesn’t cooperate all you can focus on is the practice you’re losing in one area of the production, but the directors/stage managers have been very gracious and quick to find solutions that ensure we are using our time effectively despite the less than ideal weather circumstances.” Overall, Kovacs saw amazing growth in the cast, “Traditionally tech week is when everything comes together the cast begins to gel, they fully develop their characters and everything starts to be more real. I feel this is the time when you can really see the most growth both for the cast and the crew and doing a show in an outside venue really creates a drastic difference during that tech week. The timeline is super short and it is amazing how quickly this cast and crew adapted.”

With a 42-member, multi-generational cast, Kovacs hopes “they feel proud of all of their hard work. I hope they come to love the characters they portrayed and that above all they made fun and lasting memories…I know so much of it was hard and sometimes exhausting work.” In turn, Seda hopes that the audience “is reminded of a time in their life where an abundance of wonder and magic was present, and let themselves indulge into the fantasticality of it all. I hope our show eases any worry and trouble that may be present in people’s lives, even if only for the two hours we are on stage. This was not a solo affair— everyone had an idea or two that is at some point showcased on stage, whether it’s a mannerism, prop, dance move, or vocal inflection, the result of everyone’s imagination and hard work is present. I hope people feel the love of the community that came together to make this show happen, and I hope our choices translate into an entertaining experience for everyone to enjoy.”

“Take your family or a friend to see this show,” Kovacs said, going on to say, “It’s absolutely something to share with those you love. This show is all about family and what it takes to make relationships strong and viable. It takes a sense of humor, some patience, and showing acts of love and maybe a little magic too. It’s easy to see why Mary Poppins is such a likable character. She is poised and proper without being stuffy or too critical. She offers excellent advice and knows how to have fun too. I can relate to her sense of creativity and imagination, and I can only hope my vision for this show exemplifies her character in a practically perfect way.”

Grab your outdoor chairs or a blanket and pack a picnic for Mary Poppins. The grounds open at 7:00 p.m. for picnicking, with the show beginning at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (65+) and students (with ID) and $15 for children 10 and under. For the Thursday performances (July 30 and August 6), tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, and $10 for children 10 and under. Visit the website at Musicalsatrichter.org for more information.