I've been having the incredible opportunity of watching rehearsals for Mary Poppins at the theatre I work at.
I tried to keep it down. But I can't. Here goes.
Today, the five hour rehearsal included Step in Time (the tap number where the ensemble is chimney sweeps) and the scenes directly before and after. I'm gonna TELL you about Step in Time.
It was mindblowing. Incredible. Absolutely unreal.
First of all, I adore the interactions that go on between the chimney sweeps. There are so many cute little transactions that occur, you DO NOT have enough eyes to watch them all. They all happen so quickly and swiftly that, chances are, you're missing them. But the chimney sweeps all exhibit a charming camaraderie, and they're constantly shaking hands, patting each other's shoulders, and tossing each other smiles on a whim. It's different each time.
Also, for some reason, lots of the ensemble boys were wearing baseball caps, and at random times when improvising was allowed, you'd catch one whip his hat off his head and tip it to another sweep or whirl it around up above his head.
And directly after the button of the number (that's the very very end of a dance and song), the music goes slow and everything starts happening in slow motion... and everybody does intensely interesting things. This one guy does a backwards somersault from his button position. These three chimney sweeps engage in a three-way handshake, arms crossed over each other. One chimney sweep, who finished the button in the most adorable way - landing on the ground with his chin in his hands, peeking out from between another sweep's legs - gets help standing back up. Bert spits on his hand and little Michael looks with horror as their hands meet... and as the handshake ends and Michael pulls his hand away, he pulls a revolted face and wipes his hand clean. It's all happening in slow motion, and all at once, in a matter of five brilliant seconds, and if you're watching one, it means you're missing all the others.
The most striking thing about these ensemble members is that they are downright charming. There's a number called the the Step in Time Reprise, it's immediately after Step in Time and it's a transition from the rooftops into the Bank's house, and the chimney sweeps interact with the people of the household. The absolute cutest part was a segment that was just added today, when the chimney sweeps, all having fun, swing their hips back and forth - along with matching arm movements - as they wait for their cue from Bert. There's no way to properly explain that part. It's just so cute. SO cute. Also, in another corner, where Mr. Banks's desk lies, one sweep climbs up onto his office chair and starts dancing, as two other sweeps grab his briefcase and toss it back and forth to each other, running around the table with it, as Mr. Banks angrily tries to grab it back. Meanwhile, Ms. Banks is pulled into a salsa with Bert and Miss Brill is tossed around between sweeps. It's a total party. And, at the end of the scene, when the sweeps are all filing out the door (still in dance), the charm reaches a peak as, one by one, the boy chimney sweeps prance past Mr. Banks and individually sing, "Good night, guvnor!" as they spin backwards and tip their hats to him.
But I couldn't give a description of this number without noting the INCREDIBLE tap soloist. Okay. you know how, when a fan starts to move, you can't see where the blades are - it's just a blur of color? That's exactly what happened with his feet. It's the only way I can it. Near the end of the number, his feet started flying so fast that I honestly COULD NOT SEE where they were. He was floating on a cloud of brown and all these incredible NOISES were rocketing out from beneath him.
That wasn't the only moment that left me beyond mindblown. There was one section where the sweeps began to make intricate rhythms by clapping and slapping their shoulders, knees, elbows... it was a relentless string of hands flying, striking skin. They did the thing where you cross your arms (hands tap the opposite elbow) then you bring them back up to the middle, where the backs of your hands slap together, and then back down to elbows, etc. and also this thing there (try this with me) you put your left hand over your right knee, use your right hand to slap your knee, bring it up to slap your left hand, bring it back down to slap your knee, repeat on the other side. And then repeat that. Again. Again. Really fast. REALLY FAST.
Also, let's just not forget when two of the sweeps did ten pirouettes in a row, perfectly synched, and then ended it with a toe-touch jump. It was all too much. So much.
And there's this part where the chimney sweeps, with their brooms in hand, line up in two lines, facing each other, and Mary Poppins and Bert and the kids walk down between the lines, but, as that's happening, just in front of them, the chimney sweeps toss their brooms across the alley to each other. The broom toss occurs in a wave, just as Mary and the others arrive down the row. It's nothing short of impressive.
Also, just by watching, I learned a few new tap steps (from the parts that were slow enough for me to process) and I actually remember quite a bit. I remember the last several 8-counts of the entire number, which is nothing compared to the entirety of the number, but they did the end a few times, so I got to watch it and remember the sequence of the moves. I probably couldn't DO it cause my technique isn't there yet, but I definitely know what's next in the dance.
I think that's all I have to say now. I think I've run my pen dry. I just wanted to write about it on here because I'd been texting a couple of friends throughout the night, and that's all scattered and I wanted a place to have it ALL. So here it is. It'll probably be added to. But anyways, here's this.
In conclusion, my mind is shattered. I question what is real. I watched them rehearse for five entire hours, and during that time they had every ounce of my attention, but, even after that, I can't even begin to describe what just happened right in front of my eyes. Everything I witnessed was far beyond unreal.
And that was just one number.
