Maplewood Engineering Firm Helps Mary Poppins Fly

A Maplewood structural engineering firm played a part in the Muny’s Mary Poppins production, showing this week.

When Mary Poppins flies away from the stage and over the heads of the audience, Cowell Engineering made sure it was done safely.

ZFX Flying Effects connected the actress to the 250-foot-long cable. Cowell Engineering made sure that the cable’s connections on a restroom corner and on a boom structure onstage were solid.

Co-owner of Cowell, Jean Cowell, had no worries. The company helped Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz fly in previous shows.

“When you do something in engineering and you stay within your comfort zone in your knowledge you feel confidant that things are going to be fine,” she said.

David Cowell, Jean’s husband, started doing the Muny’s annual structural evaluation a little more than 20 years ago, including the giant turntable onstage. When David and Jean started Cowell Engineering, they kept the job.

To test Mary Poppins’ flying rig, the first thing to soar over the seats was a 225-pound sand bag. The next day Cowell got to try it herself. 

She said they went to opening night, and it was even better than she thought it would be.

“It’s always fun when you’re involved in a project that you feel good about, and gives you a way of telling people what you do,” she said.