MASSILLON, Ohio — The umbrella, carpet bag and the gentle way she floats to the stage — it is the iconic character of Mary Poppins. Jackson High School and elementary students have been rehearsing for weeks to put on the musical. But flying is something new for the cast.
“The first time I went up, it was a little tricky because I was mostly concerned that I’m not on the ground anymore. And I wasn’t worried about anything Mary Poppins related,” said actor Brenna Charlick, who plays Mary Poppins. “But now, as I’m practicing more and more, I get to bring in elements of the character to the flight.”
Parker Seemann, who plays Bert the chimney sweep, is also learning to fly, getting used to the wires and harness that allow him to perform upside down.
“It’s kind of out-of-body. Like, ‘Am I actually doing this?’ And then one minute you’re up in the air and the next you’re down,” Parker Seeman said after testing the flying rig for the first time. “It’s really a new experience. And I guess that’s physics for you.”
He’s not wrong, according to physics teacher Paul Dillick.
Dillick recently explained some of the science behind the magic to his physics students, who stopped by during rehearsal for a look at how the rope and pulley system works.
“So I’m getting what’s called a mechanical advantage,” Dillick demonstrated. “It’s letting me pull a lot more distance of rope, but not need to use as much force.”
To ensure all flying cast members do so safely, the school hired the company On the Fly and local stagehands to assist the students who will lift their classmates above the stage.
“We are very comfortable putting their hands on this technology, and they’re doing a great job learning it,” said the musical’s director, Hannah Rissler.
“Knowing how the machine works really helps with your ability to get it down and be able to do it constantly from time to time,” Seemann said. “And once you get that down, it’s basically a walk in the park or I guess, a walk on the ceiling.”
The pulley system is not the only magic on stage; to create a breakaway vase, the director turned to the engineering class who 3D-printed the prop. Made in four pieces, it is held together with magnets.
With opening night quickly approaching, it is the combination of science and art that is the true magic.
“Being able to mold those together and make something an educational experience as well as a performance to the community is a big deal to us,” said Rissler.
“Mary Poppins” runs November 7, 9 and 10 at the Jackson Center for the Performing Arts. Ticket information can be found here.
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