Puzzling out a set for ‘Mary Poppins’

Creating sets for theater productions is a regular occurrence in the weeks before a new show is launched, but volunteers were recently asked to puzzle their way through backdrops for an upcoming performance of the Broadway musical “Mary Poppins,” which opens May 8 at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park.

In mid-March, they gathered at Spreckels Theater to assemble 3-D puzzles that will be enlarged with projectors to form the row houses in Mary Poppins’ London.

“The hardest thing about it,” said volunteer Michael Ross, “is that the instructions are in Russian.”

“Well, they came from Russia,” replied Gene Abravaya, Spreckels’ artistic director. “I got them off eBay.”

Holding up a toothpick with one end dyed green that was included in the box, Ross said, “Luckily we have the right tools for the job. The instructions said to use the green end to poke out the pieces.”

Assembled, the three Victorian dollhouse puzzles were interlocked into a row of houses just a few feet high and photographed from all angles. Those pictures will then be used as projections, using the Paradyne projection system, for an array of backdrops used during the performances.

The completed puzzles will be auctioned off May 9 at the Spreckels Theatre Company’s spring fundraiser.

Abravaya said he views the exercise as an inexpensive way to add production value. “It makes a big difference in the quality of the show we can produce because we can do so much with the background.”

Volunteers had a few recommendations, in case he decides to repeat the process. “Next time we will get better directions,” said Lyndsey Transue.

“Yeah, maybe in English!” quipped Michella Snider.

Contact Rohnert Park Towns Correspondent Nick Walden at rparktowns@gmail.com.