First, Bainbridge Performing Arts added a performance to the final of its production of the musical “Mary Poppins.”
Then, BPA postponed the whole weekend. Executive director Dominique Cantwell confirmed Friday afternoon that this weekend’s four shows — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday as well — would be postponed until January because of illness. All but the Sunday evening show, which was added earlier this week, were sold out.
In a release, Cantwell said ticketholders for the Dec. 18-20 performances can exchange their tickets for the corresponding performances Jan. 8-10 — Friday , Saturday and Sunday evenings — by e-mailing smaguire@bainbridgeperformingarts.org. The 3 p.m. matinee postponed from Dec. 20 can be exchanged for a Saturday matinee on Jan. 9.
Lisa Mandelkorn, who plays the title role, is sidelined by a malady Cantwell described as similar to the illness that shelved “Poppins” castmate Michelle Abad for the first weekend of the run, Dec. 4-6. (Zandi Carlson ably subbed for Abad for those three performances.)
“It seems like the same thing,” Cantwell said of the illness. “She can’t sing, just like Michelle couldn’t sing.”
Cantwell said the difficulty of finding someone who could both sing and act the role — which includes aerial work — necessitated the postponement.
“We want people who come and see it to have the whole experience,” she said. “Having a mimed Mary Poppins just wasn’t going to work.”
BPA will be in contact with ticket holders concerning the postponement and the reschedule dates.
Information: 206-842-8569, bainbridgeperformingarts.org
— MM
