Mary Poppins JR. Reflections

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

School Musicals are a fabulous point of reference to teach our students about the body of Christ. There are no lesser roles in a musical; every member has an important role to play. If we do not have the ticket sellers, there is no audience. The main cast? The story is not told. The backstage props manager? There will be confusion on stage.

At Emmaus Christian College, our students from Foundation to Year 12 are blessed with opportunity to be involved in performing in Musicals. Our students are able to collaborate in dreaming, visioning, rehearsing, and finally, working as a tight ensemble to deliver a performance that is entertaining, yet creatively and intellectually stimulating.

'Mary Poppins JR' is no exception. Mary comes into a family that is totally dysfunctional. Mary starts on the path of reconciliation through firm boundaries, yet she peppers their lives with laughter, fun and adventure. By the end of the story, the family value each other, and even Mr Banks finds delight in the simple pleasure of flying a kite.’ Mary teaches the Banks family to truly see people and thus give people who cross their paths, their true worth.

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported 'Mary Poppins JR' with the enthusiastic applause and encouraging comments. One parent’s gratitude email summed up the experience beautifully. She writes:

"Mary Poppins is one of my very favourite musicals and I recently saw it in Sydney. You all did it justice, which is not very easy to do. It was a fabulous effort all around. I realize a ridiculous amount of work hours go into making this work and am thankful for everyone's generosity and commitment.

Your costumes were outstanding. I was very impressed with how many costumes you put together and how well they matched the timeframe. It really made the show impressive.

All the lead cast were outstanding and Mary Poppins is real talent. All the details from staging, costumes, songs, performances of younger classes were fabulous."

An enormous thank you to Nikki Meinel and Robyn Butler, our formidable creative duo, who had the vision and the drive to lead us on! To our amazing school community from Foundation to Year 12 and our staff: to everyone who helped backstage, with costumes, sets, props and makeup, provided scones for morning tea - a big thank you and well done.

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16

Susanne Milne
Caretaker of the Junior School, South Plympton