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Kristen Sharp and Con O'Shea-Creal, center, star in Red Mountain Theatre Company's "Mary Poppins." (Photo by Stewart Edmonds)

This time a year ago, Red Mountain Theatre Company mounted a rousing production of "Les Miserables," kicking the level of Birmingham theater up a notch with a production that raised the rafters at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre.

How do you top that? You mount a joyful, soaring production of "Mary Poppins." Not only do you continue to raise the rafters - including maybe the best single production number ever on a Birmingham stage - but you use the rafters, too, to fly your cast high above the appreciative audience.

Based on the classic Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, "Mary Poppins" stars Kristen Sharp and Con O'She-Creal as the umbrella-wielding nanny and her buddy, the chimney sweep Bert. Mary swoops in to help put the Banks household in order, as Mr. Banks (Mike Stephens) faces an uncertain work future and Mrs. Banks (Emily Herring) tries to save her family, including children Jane and Michael (Andrew Glassford and Mea Allen on opening night, alternating with Zanie Love Shaia and Chase Cowart).

To borrow from one of the show's delightful songs, the cast is "practically perfect in every way." Sharp is Mary Poppins, reminiscent of Julia Andrews in so many ways, including her lovely voice; and O'Shea-Creal has the song-and-dance background that makes Bert such a loveable character. Stephens and Herring have the acting chops to back up their beautiful singing voices, and Glassford and Allen are delightful as the precocious Banks siblings.

It doesn't stop there. Amy Johnson and Jared Max Wright are hysterical as Miss Brill and Robinson Ay, the two other Banks' household staff members; Kelli Winn Johnson scores as Ms. Corry; and it's hard to choose from the many smaller roles that Tam DeBolt plays, but she's touching and poignant as the Bird Woman and scary and funny as Miss Andrew.

Director/choreographer Robin Lewis, along with music director Camille Rolla and her wonderful orchestra, has decided to tackle "Mary Poppins" in a big, big way. That's never more evident than with "Step in Time" in Act II. It begins as your standard musical number, adds some "Newsies"-style leaps and bounds using brooms as props, builds to a wonderful, stop-the-show tap-dancing moment, and then ... well, we won't spoil the surprise, but you've never seen it done on a stage in Birmingham.

It's a great moment in a show filled with great moments from the leads and ensemble alike, and proves yet again what great musical talent Birmingham boasts.

Bottom line: "Mary Poppins" is very magical, and it brings with it something "Les Miserables" doesn't - lots and lots of smiles and laughter.

"Mary Poppins," a Red Mountain Theatre Company production at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre at the Alabama School of Fine Arts; through Aug. 2; 205-324-2424 or redmountaintheatre.org.