For two weeks at the beginning of May, Grade 8 student Levi Budd was leading a dual life - student by day and performer by night. From May 3-12, the performers of the Victoria On Stage Musical Theatre put on six ticketed shows of the beloved Mary Poppins and that show included Levi playing a star role as Michael Banks. The cast and crew also put on dress rehearsals that had school groups in the audience.
Levi has been rehearsing with his ensemble since the end of January, preparing intensely for each show that spanned two hours and 45 minutes. Levi was on stage for over two hours of show time. Levi’s character, Michael, is brother to Jane, who are both children in the Banks family. The siblings are faced with the prospect of a new nanny, the infamous, magical and singing Mary Poppins.
“It’s really fun to pretend to be someone you’re not,” said Levi, whose acting is just one more x-factor to add to his resume following his push to add the word levidrome to the dictionary and his powerful 300-word essay that garnered $10,000 towards Habitat for Humanity Victoria. “For this show, Michael is kind of a bratty eight-year-old. I’m not like that (anymore) so I make my voice higher than usual. My costume helps with that process. I automatically just stand a little straight when I’m wearing that many layers.”
Levi was not the only SMUS connection on stage for Mary Poppins. Junior School faculty Stephanie Geehan, who teaches French and is also Director of the upcoming Junior School Musical Annie, and Junior Kindergarten teacher Angela Ireland were also in the performance. Mdme. Geehan played the part of Mrs. Corry while Mrs. Ireland was cast as Bird Woman.
For Levi, there was always an interest in theatre as he started taking drama classes with Victoria’s Theatre Skam at the age of three. The Mary Poppins show presented Levi his first opportunity to work with the Victoria On Stage Musical Theatre group and comes on the heels of his performance in the SMUS Middle School production of School of Rock last year.
But the balance of student and performer isn’t an easy one. In fact, it’s one that comes with sacrifices but also life lessons.
“Mostly time management,” said Levi about how acting and performing has helped him become a better student. “Balancing my commitments with rehearsals and school work taught me some valuable lessons about taking breaks and budgeting what available time I have.”
And the learning goes both ways.
“The drama and choir classes I’ve been taking at SMUS definitely helped me with my audition, and School of Rock was a great way to become familiar with acting at the McPherson before this show,” adds Levi. “Mr. Frater, Coach K and Madame Geehan are such amazing teachers. I am so lucky to have had them at SMUS.”
From a parent perspective, there’s nothing better than seeing your child step into the spotlight but, Levi’s dad, Lucky Budd, says there’s more to it than that.
“Acting has been such a valuable lesson in collaboration,” said Lucky. “It was also empowering for Levi to take on such a big challenge and he felt so much satisfaction with the results of his hard work. When Levi walked into his audition for this role, he knew exactly what to do. His time at SMUS has certainly helped him to prepare.”
What's next for Levi? He already has his eyes and hopes set on what productions will lie ahead in Senior School, plus any opportunities that arise in the city. Until then, he's just a regular kid ready to head to wrap up Grade 8 and head in to the summer holiday
Photo Credits: Gordon Rufh Photography
