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(Posted
10:30 a.m., Mary 16)
OYP production of Mary Poppins a worthy tribute to Disney
classic
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Samantha
Leclair (centre) makes a triumphant return
to the Shenkman Arts Centre stage as Mary
Poppins in the OYP Theatre School's fundraising
production of the Disney classic. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The
Orleans Young Players Theatre School has pulled out all
the stops in staging their annual fundraising showcase this
year, bringing back some familiar faces for the production
of Mary Poppins.
The
cast includes several veterans of local theatre including
Susan Flemming, Marni-Hunt Stephens, Sarah Benfield, Lennis
Poupore, Randy Bellini, Biz MacDonald and the always amazing
Samantha Leclair in the lead role of Mary Poppins.
I could spend the entire article singing the praises of
Ms. Leclair, who was born to play the magical nanny who
drops into Cherry Tree Lane to care for the Banks children
and mend the estranged family, but the OYP production
is a sum of some pretty wonderful parts including a song
list that many of the older members of the audience grew
up with like "A Spoonful of Sugar", "Chim
Chim Cher-ee", and, of course, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".
The
ensemble numbers, which are performed by a small army
of OYP's youngest students, are adorable and too sweet
for words.
The
play itself includes the usual cast of characters starting
with Bert, the chimney sweep and chalk artist who was
played by Dick van Dyck in the Disney production and Sebastien
Melbourne on the Shenkman Arts Centre Stage; Admiral Boom,
who is played by Rob Pettifer; and Uncle Albert played
by Bruce Deachman.
Mary
Poppins is the perfect opportunity for parents to share
a part of their youth with children. There are two more
performances today (Friday, Feb. 23) at 1 p.m. and 7
p.m. In lieu of purchasing an actual ticket, audience
members are asked to donate a minimum of $10 for adults
and $5 for students and children which will be used to
help purchase props, costumes and scripts for future productions.
Besides
acting as an important fundraiser, Mary Poppins marks
the beginning of OYP's Student Showcase season which will
continue over the next four weeks and include 21 productions.
For
more information about the theatre school visit www.oypts.ca.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents an all ages production of Treasure Island in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for adults. Students and youth 25 and under $10. To purchase visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents Michael Ben-Shalom live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents The Underground live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
CLASSIC PIANO RECITAL – Orléans pianist Emily Hou will be performing works by Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Liszt at Kanata United Church as part os the Beaverbrook Community Concert Series. The recital will start promptly at 3 p.m. Kanata United Church is located at 33 Leacock Dr. in Kanata. For more information visit 
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. Trivia Night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (613) 834-9005 to reserve your spot. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near the Innes Road McDonalds.
