More than 50 youth from Burke Presbyterian Church presented the musical “Mary Poppins” on March 6-8. Photo by Susan Carter
More than 50 junior and senior high school youth from Burke Presbyterian Church (BPC) presented the musical “Mary Poppins” on March 6-8. The church, transformed by more than 26 hand-painted panels into early 20th century London, was packed for each of the four performances.
Cameron Mackintosh’s stage version melds songs and story lines from the Disney movie and P.L. Travers’ books, so guests hummed along to old favorites including “A Spoonful of Sugar” and less familiar songs, such as “Practically Perfect.”
Burke Presbyterian has been producing youth musicals since 1997; the church never charges for admission, although donations are accepted to help cover expenses and youth mission trips.
“The youth always dazzle the crowds with their talent,” said Mary Poppins Producer Ashley Uttler. “BPC musicals welcome all youth who wish to participate. No one is ever turned away.”
The majority of the youth in the show attend Robinson and Lake Braddock Secondary Schools and West Springfield High School. Other schools represented included Frost Middle School, Herndon Middle School, Lanier Middle School, Washington Irving Middle School, and Immanuel Christian.
“You could say that Mary Poppins is a story about magic—and it is,” said Burke Presbyterian co-pastor Meg Peery McLaughlin. “You could say that Mary Poppins is a story about family—and it is. … But to put it in the language of faith, Mary Poppins is a story that plays around the edges of hope … the kind of hope that believes we can in fact change. And Easter is at its core a story about hope.”
Burke Presbyterian welcomes all during its Holy Week celebrations, which include Palm Sunday (March 29, 8:30 and 11 a.m.); Lenten Quiet Day, when visitors are invited to walk the church’s Labyrinth (March 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.); Maundy Thursday (April 2, 7:30 p.m.); Good Friday (April 3, 7:30 p.m.); and Easter (April 5, 8:30, 10, and 11:30 a.m.).
--Kim Douglass Marin