By BERNADETTE SUKLEY

Special to The Press

Amidst a school year of COVID-19 closures and restrictions, Northwestern Lehigh High School’s Drama Club delivered a magical performance with their spring musical, “Mary Poppins.”

There were many hurdles to overcome, school closures and snow days interrupted rehearsal schedules.

Their original musical director became ill and they practiced without an official choreographer.

Cast members had to wear masks during rehearsals, face shields for performances, and they had to take on more than one role to keep the number of actors limited.

There were no fundraisers and to make matters worse, the audience was missing.

Only a few parents were permitted to attend due to indoor restrictions.

Despite the obstacles, the cast went above and beyond to make sure the show went on.

Several cast members trained with vocal coaches outside regularly scheduled practices. Others went to Ontelaunee Park to rehearse together outside.

There were also some silver linings.

Many of the costumes and props were donated by Freedom High School.

Director Bill Mutimer wore as many hats as he could, directing choreography and rehearsing music with the cast whenever he could squeeze it in.

The play was live streamed on the ShowTix4U website April 9 and 10.

Mutimer said Northwestern Lehigh was one of only a handful of high schools that held onstage performances this year.

“I think we were one of five schools that are having musicals this season,” he said.

“Other schools either canceled plans or will have something in the summer.”

The FREDDY Awards, presented by the State Theatre, Easton, recognizes outstanding achievement in high school musical theater.

The theater has announced 2021 will be another “different kind of year” for its signature FREDDY&Copy; Awards.

“The restrictions of the pandemic will prevent our evaluative process once again, so it will be another creative year” says Shelley Brown, State Theatre president and CEO on the theatre’s Web page. “Thanks to our partnership with WFMZ, we will still produce a television special that will celebrate the high school students’ work, but it we will be unable to evaluate any high school shows in our traditional fashion.”

The State Theatre and WFMZ-TV will present “Freddy Awards: A Television Special Celebrating the High School Musical Class of 2021,” 7 p.m. May 27 on 69-WFMZ and online.

The musical, with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, is based on P.L. Travers’ children’s books and the 1964 Walt Disney movie of the same title.

The movie maintains a happy and humorous tone throughout. In the play however, the characters struggle with finding where they belong.

One song, “Being Mrs. Banks,” wife, Winifred Banks, makes a confession that it’s hard to be married to a man who expects so much of her.

The play takes a darker turn when two nannies square off in a musical number called, “Brimstone and Treacle.”

Mary Poppins uses sweetness to entice the children into better behavior.

Yet, Mr. Banks’ former nanny, Miss Andrew uses threats and punishment.

Mary Poppins wins the argument while Miss Andrews is forced to take a taste of her own medicine.

Travers wrote the novel series “Mary Poppins” basing the adventures on her own difficult childhood in Queensland, Australia.

While she idolized her father, his chronic alcoholism resulted in his successive firings from jobs, straining her parents’ marriage, and even leading to her mother’s attempted suicide.

Traver’s father died from tuberculosis when she was 7.

Before his death, Travers’ austere and practical aunt came to live with the family.

The aunt served as the main inspiration for the nanny character, Mary Poppins.

Saying goodbye for the actors in the Class of 2021 after such a chaotic year is nothing if difficult.

Savannah Madeira, who gave a stellar performance as Mary Poppins, related to the lyrics of the last song she sings on stage.

“It goes, ‘with every job when it’s complete, there is a sense of bittersweet, that moment when you know the task is done, though in your heart you’d like to stay,’” she recalled. “It’s so perfect because that’s how I feel, it make me teary-eyed but so proud.”

Madeira will be attending college in the fall.

“While I’m not going to major in music or theater, I know I must keep it in my life because it’s so therapeutic,” she added.

Lauren Terrell, who portrayed Winifred Bank with a solid vocal and acting performance, reminisced about the four-month journey that culminated in the onstage performance.

“When I look back on it, I think we really did well with what we had,” Terrell said.

“You might think it was so bad, but we worked hard and overcame so much.

“The fact that we were able to perform is amazing.”

Terrell plans to attend Towson University in Towson, Md., and major in psychology.

Emma Burton who nailed the role of nasty nanny, Miss Andrew, will continue her stage career when she attends college in the fall.

“The school has a Shakespeare Club,” she said. “And I want to join so I can continue with acting, which is what I love most,” Burton said.

Kylie Masters, who played Jane Banks, plans to major in vocal performance at Florida Atlantic University.

“While it’s not dramatic arts, it’s very similar to the musicals I’ve been doing,” she said.

Masters delivered sterling vocals as the naughty-turned-nice daughter of George Banks.

“It’s something I love,” she added.

Porter Lilly, a seasoned veteran of the stage, provided the slapstick comedy in his role of Robertson Aye, the well-meaning but clumsy servant.

He’ll be attending Johnson and Wales in North Carolina for the culinary arts.

“While I’ve got specific plans and know what I want to do, I hope to be involved in musicals and acting. I want to have that connection because it’s made such a huge impact on my life,” he said.

Supporting the seniors were: Elijah Johri as George Banks, Aine Demko as Mrs. Brill, Elijah Kinzel as Michael Banks, and Steven Sukley as Bert.

CAST LIST

Mary Poppins Savannah Madeira

Bert Steven Sukley

Mr. George Banks Eli Johri

Winifred Banks Lauren Terrell

Jane Banks Kylie Masters

Michael Banks Eli Kinzel

Mrs. Brill Aine Demko

Robertson Aye Porter Lilley

Katie Nanna/Bird Woman Kourtney Keim

Mrs. Corry / Doll Chloe Schoemaker

Von Hussler/Policeman Declan O’Connor

Park Keeper Karla Rivera

Admiral Boom Hudson Wertman

Miss Lark Mackenzie Madeira

Miss Andrew Emma Burton

Bank Chairwoman/Queen Victoria/Valentine Sydney Utt

Mr. Punch/Messenger Gabe Kinnon

Neleus/Northbrook Cohen Thompson

Miss Smythe/Annie Abby Casciano

Fannie Rebecca Danner

Teddy Bear Maddie Cannon