When I walked into the Black Box Theater on Saturday, March 8, to watch Jesuit Drama’s production of Mary Poppins Jr., I was expecting a standard high school performance, complete with all the charming foibles one would expect of a high school play. 

I did not see that show. 

Instead, what I saw  was a truly professional performance. By the end of the first number, it was very clear to me that I had grievously underestimated the quality of the show. Every aspect of the musical was executed by Jesuit Drama at the highest level, and I do mean every aspect  – the acting, the singing, the dancing and choreography, the costume design, the audio and special effects – all were impeccably wrapped up into an emotional and powerful story that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire production. 

At the core of every musical is its song and dance numbers, and this was an area where Jesuit Drama excelled. Every routine was meticulously choreographed, which made each song come to life on stage. In particular, the performance of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was an awe-inspiring explosion of color and movement that combined flawless choreography, top-notch special effects, and bright, vibrant costumes. 

While the choreography was excellent, the real show-stopping aspect of the music were the vocal performances. There were multiple moments where a character stole the show with a stunning solo. The specific actors that stood out to me were Ali Zaidi ’25 (Mr. Banks), Imani Thiara (Mrs. Correy), Kiera Mcmanus (The Bird Woman), and on multiple occasions Olivia King (Mary Poppins). In one powerful singing performance, Emma Watson (Mrs. Andrews) overcame a broken microphone and still , which may have been the most impressive part of the night; it epitomized the professionalism that was displayed by the entire cast. 

While the music was clearly the centerpiece of the show, the acting was by no means merely passable. The story told by the Banks family was as captivating as it was emotional, and that was largely due to the outstanding performances given by all four members of the Banks family. Ali Zaidi and Scarlett Bronner as Mr. Banks and Jane were especially on point. Tyler Garcia ’25 (Neleus), Lauren Weideman (Mrs. Brill) and Aidan Wallace ’25 (Robertson-Ay) also turned in exemplary performances as side characters.

I went into the night expecting a high school play and was instead treated to a show I would have gladly paid a high price to see at a commercial theater with professional actors. Put simply, Jesuit’s performance of Mary Poppins Jr. was nothing but exceptional.