Up in the air over Mary Poppins

THE hit musical Mary Poppins has started its Australian season in Melbourne after playing to more than four million people on the West End and Broadway.

The stage show features favourite songs such as A Spoonful of Sugar and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from the 1964 Walt Disney film, which starred Julie Andrews, plus new songs composed by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

The million-dollar production features Mary Poppins flying and chimney sweeps dancing upside down on a ceiling.

The lead role of the flying nanny is played by Adelaide actor Verity Hunt-Ballard, who was selected after more than 1000 hopefuls were auditioned in Australia, New Zealand and London.

Joining the top cast that includes Marina Prior, Philip Quast, Debra Byrne, Sally-Anne Upton, Matt Lee and Judi Connelli is Troy Sussman, who has appeared in musicals ranging from Les Miserables to Phantom of the Opera over the past two decades.

“It’s exciting to be part of a great musical and an amazing cast which is a snapshot of Australia’s musical theatre over the past 25 years,” Sussman, 40, said this week.

“It’s lovely to be in a show that has such heart and warmth. Everyone who sees it enjoys it; some even have a good cry. There are magical moments such as Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and the way Mary Poppins comes and goes.

“Parents who bring their kids along will see a great show and watch the magic in the children’s faces as they experience the wonder of theatre.”

Sussman plays the role of German businessman Von Hussler, who is seeking a loan from banker George Banks and becomes involved in the negotiations. “Von Hussler is not a very nice man, but a fun role to play.”

Banks is played by Quast and his wife Winifred by Prior. One of their children, Jane, is played by King David School year 7 student Sara Reed, who shares the role with three other girls to perform two shows each week.

Sara has plenty of experience with major musicals, having been in the cast of Billy Elliot — The Musical during its Melbourne season in 2008-9.

Sussman himself is also a cantor at Bentleigh Progressive Synagogue and teams up with his father Geoff for high holy day services.

The past couple of years have been busy on the stage for Sussman with roles in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s The Drowsy Chaperone opposite Geoffrey Rush earlier this year, performing in Guys and Dolls last year and in Jeanne Pratt’s Production Company musical Mame in 2008.

“All those shows pushed me to a new level, especially with the amount of dancing that I had to do,” he says.

“Twenty years ago, you could be a great singer and a good actor, but today in musicals you have to be a dancer and do all three skills well.”

As well as performing, Sussman is a director of the Entertainment Store Group in Melbourne, an entertainment booking agency and production company. It was established 15 years ago by Jewish actors Anton Berezin and Theresa Borg.

“It keeps me busy in the mornings while I’m at the theatre at night, and provides a job that I can do when I’m not doing shows,” Sussman said.

Mary Poppins is being staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre, 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.

DANNY GOCS