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* [http://www.henryhodges.com/ Official Henry Hodges website]
* [http://www.henryhodges.com/ Official Henry Hodges website]
* [http://www.lauramichellekelly.co.uk Laura Michelle Kelly site]
* [http://www.lauramichellekelly.co.uk Laura Michelle Kelly site]
* [htto://www.scarlettstrallen.co.uk www.scarlettstrallen.co.uk]
* [http://www.scarlettstrallen.co.uk www.scarlettstrallen.co.uk]
* [http://www.jyefrasca.com Jye Frasca site]
* [http://www.jyefrasca.com Jye Frasca site]
* [http://www.new-amsterdam-theatre.com New Amsterdam Theatre] Broadway
* [http://www.new-amsterdam-theatre.com New Amsterdam Theatre] Broadway

Revision as of 20:02, 17 April 2007

Mary Poppins
File:Mary Poppins 2.jpg
Original London Production Poster
MusicRobert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman; George Stiles
LyricsRobert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman; Anthony Drew
BookJulian Fellowes
BasisP.L. Travers' Mary Poppins books and the Walt Disney Film
Productions2004 West End
2006 Broadway
AwardsOlivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical
Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
For the 1964 Academy Award winning motion picture, see Mary Poppins (film).

Mary Poppins, in addition to being a series of children's books and a film, has also been adapted for the stage by Disney Theatrical. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre Choreography. The musical features the original music and lyrics by the Academy Award winning Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Tigger Movie), along with additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The book was written by Julian Fellowes. The musical was directed by Richard Eyre and co-directed by Matthew Bourne, who also acted as co-choreographer with Stephen Mear. A Broadway production with a near-identical creative team opened in November 2006, with only minor changes from the West End version.

The stage musical is a fusion of various elements from the film and the books. Some elements from the Mary Poppins series of children's books that had been omitted from the film were restored, such as the walking statue and the ladders rising to the stars. Others were removed, such as the scene in which Uncle Albert gets caught on the ceiling, laughing.

London Production

Cameron Mackintosh's stage adaptation of Mary Poppins had its world premiere and preview run at the Bristol Hippodrome in 2004 before opening at the Prince Edward Theatre on December 15, 2004. The role of Mary was played by Laura Michelle Kelly, who subsequently won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the role.

The show sparked mild controversy not long after its debut when producers Cameron MacKintosh and Thomas Schumacher banned children below three from entering the theatre, deeming the show too scary for young children.[1][2] The ban still remains, and theatre staff are to prevent patrons with children below three to enter. The show is officially tagged as being "for children seven years and up".

A studio recording featuring the original London cast was released in April 2005. The album contains most of the songs from the stage show, but omits a few, including Precision and Order, Cherry Tree Lane Part 3 and many of the Chim Chim Cher-ee interludes.

London Cast

Prince Edward Theatre in 2005
Main article: List of Mary Poppins (musical) cast members

Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards 2005[3]

  • Best New Musical - Nominated
  • Best Actress in a Musical (Laura Michelle Kelly) - Won
  • Best Actor in a Musical (Gavin Lee) - Nominated
  • Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (David Haig) - Nominated
  • Best Director (Richard Eyre and Matthew Bourne) - Nominated
  • Best Theatre Choreographer (Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear) - Won
  • Best Lighting Design (Howard Harrison) - Nominated
  • Best Set Design (Bob Crowley) - Nominated
  • Best Costume Design (Bob Crowley) - Nominated

Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2005[4]

  • Best Musical - Nominated
  • Best Designer (Bob Crowley) - Won
  • Sydney Edwards Award for Best Director (Richard Eyre) - Nominated

Theatregoer's Choice Awards 2005[5]

Theatregoer's Choice Awards 2007

Broadway production

File:Mary Poppins (musical).jpg
A recent poster for the musical Mary Poppins.

Due to the success of the West End production, the musical was transferred to Broadway, where it debuted on November 16th 2006 at the New Amsterdam Theatre after previews from October 14th. Gavin Lee, who had originated the role of Bert in the West End production reprised his role in the Broadway production.

The Broadway production differed from the London production in that the "Jolly Holiday" sequence was staged in full technicolour instead of the gray tones of the London show and in "Anything Can Happen" there was the addition of a larger version of Mary Poppins' umbrella entering from the stage floor with the characters later boarding the giant umbrella. These changes were later transferred back to the West End production.

The Broadway version received mixed reviews ranging from enthusiastic[7] to mediocre[8]. Many critics praised the show for its technical merits[9].

Broadway Cast

Main article: List of Mary Poppins (musical) cast members

Plot

ACT ONE

The show opens with Bert, a man of many professions, introducing the audience to Cherry Tree Lane (Chim Chim Cher-ee/Cherry Tree Lane). Number 17 is where the Banks family lives: George and Winifred Banks, their two children Jane and Michael, their cook Mrs Brill and their odd-job man Robertson Ay. Things at 17 Cherry Tree Lane are not going well, for Jane and Michael are out of control and as the show starts, their latest nanny, Katie Nanna, storms out. The children decide to write the advertisment for a new nanny (The Perfect Nanny), but George Banks tears up the piece of paper and throws it on the fire, not seeing that a gust of wind has taken it up the chimney. Within moments Mary Poppins arrives and takes charge of the Banks children, having every confidence in her own qualifications and merits (Practically Perfect).

On the children's first outing to the park, they meet Bert and, despite their reservations about his ragged clothes and dirty face, Mary teaches them that they must learn to look past appearances. To illustrate the point, Mary and Bert transform the park statues who come to life and dance with them (Jolly Holiday).

But while Mary manages the children, other problems lie with their parents. Winifred Banks is aware that she is somehow disappointing both her children and her husband (Being Mrs Banks) and she doesn't seem able to communicate with any of them. George Banks, on the other hand, can't understand why she finds the role of wife and mother so difficult. In an effort to please him, Winifred sends out invitations for a smart tea party, (A Spoonful of Sugar) but when her plans go wrong she feels more lost and downhearted than ever.

Mary takes the children to visit their father at the bank where he works (Precision and Order). Furious about the intrusion into his working day, Mr Banks sends them away; but an innocent question asked by Jane makes him realise how much his values have changed (A Man Has Dreams) since he was an ambitious, idealistic, young man.

Outside St Paul's Cathedral, Mary introduces the children to the Bird Woman. Jane is suspicious of her, but Michael has already learned from Mary that he must look past appearances (Feed the Birds). On the trip home, the children meet the enigmatic Mrs Corry who runs a magic sweet shop that also sells words (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious). As Mary Poppins and the children enjoy their carefree adventures, things start to go wrong for their father when a risky business decision at the bank appears to have disastrous consequences. Winifred offers her support, but she is given short shrift by her angry and frustrated husband. The children return home full of fun, but their father explodes with rage and sends them to their room.

Reacting to her father's outburst, Jane flies into a fury, ignoring Mary Poppins' words of warning about controlling her temper. The frightening consequence of her anger becomes apparent as her toys take on a life of their own and teach the naughty children a lesson they will never forget (Temper Temper).

Realising that Jane and Michael still have a lot to learn, Mary decides to leave Cherry Tree Lane (Chim Chim Cher-ee - Rooftop Duet), to bring them to their senses. Her distraught charges find a note bidding them 'au revoir', which they learn means that perhaps they will see Mary Poppins again.

ACT TWO

In a misguided attempt to please her husband, Mrs Banks arranges for his former nanny, Miss Andrew, to take over from the suddenly departed Mary (Cherry Tree Lane Part 3). To everyone's shock and dismay, Miss Andrew turns out is a brutal tyrant, rejecting any notion of a 'spoonful of sugar' in favour of her own terrible elixir (Brimstone and Treacle Part 1).

Terrified of their new nanny, the children escape to the park and find their good friend Bert, who cheers them up and helps Michael fulfil his dream of flying a kite (Let's Go Fly a Kite). This marks the return of Mary Poppins, who returns from the skies whilst holding on to Michael's kite. She wastes no time in confronting the formidable new nanny, and an epic battle ends with Miss Andrew returning whence she came. (Brimstone and Treacle Part 2)

After also hiding in the park from Miss Andrew (Good For Nothing), George returns home. To his relief he finds Mary Poppins there instead. Not only has peace returned to the house, but Winifred at last understands her husband and the damage that was done to him as a boy. She can face the challenge ahead because her confidence has come back to help her fight for him (Being Mrs Banks (Reprise)). On their next adventure, Bert introduces the children to his friends the chimney sweeps (Step In Time).

Mr Banks then faces up to the crisis he has caused at the bank. Bert helps him to remember his childhood and allows him to reflect upon the man he has become. Shaking Bert's hand for good luck (A Man Has Dreams/ A Spoonful of Sugar (Reprise)), George prepares to meet the Chairman of the Bank and accept his dismissal.

Winifred tells the children how she would like to have gone with their father, but he has forbidden it. The children encourage her not to accept barriers in life but rather to do what she thinks is right (Anything Can Happen). Winifred hurries away but unseen to her, Mary takes Jane and Michael to follow, where they watch the unfolding events.

At the bank, George is shocked to learn the truth about his choice: far from ruining the bank, as he had thought, he has made a fortune. The Chairman is delighted. Winifred, arriving to defend her husband, finds instead he is the hero of the hour. (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Reprise)). George apologises for underestimating her, and together they return to the house. (Anything Can Happen (cont.))

Mary realises that her task is now done. With regret she says goodbye to Bert and sets off. (A Spoonful of Sugar (Farewell Reprise)) Michael is delighted with the kite his father has made for him, Jane has the locket Mary has given her and the two children watch as their parents waltz happily together. Template:Endspoiler

Differences from the film

The stage musical is not a direct translation of the Disney film but features elements of both the film and the original books. The dancing penguins in the Jolly Holiday sequence and the tea party on the ceiling at Uncle Albert's from the film have been removed altogether. In their place are dancing statues and a visit to Mrs Corry's shop, both taken from the books.

The musical places more emphasis on Jane and Michael being naughty and their parents being disfunctional. Jane and Michael are constantly answering back and fighting, necessitating a sequence where Mary (it is implied) causes the toys in their nursery to come to life and berate them via the song Temper Temper. George Banks is mostly the same character from the film, except that in the musical it is revealed that he had a difficult childhood in which he was ignored by his parents and was placed under the care of a fearsome nanny named Ms. Andrew. This nanny, Ms. Andrew, makes an appearance in the musical as the polar opposite of Mary Poppins, advocating "brimstone and treacle" instead of "a spoonful of sugar". Winifred Banks, on the other hand, is no longer the suffragette of the film, but a former actress who is struggling to fulfil her husband's expectations of her.

A number of musical sequences have been modified from purpose in the film. These are:

  • A Spoonful of Sugar - Originally sung when Mary first arrives at the Banks home; has been moved to a completely new sequence later in the show where the children destroy the Banks kitchen and Mary helps them fix it.
  • Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - Originally sung during the park outing; has been moved to Mrs. Corry's sweet shop outing.
  • Feed the Birds - Originally sung by Mary to the Banks children after their adventure in the park to get them to sleep; has been moved to just before the Banks children's visit their father's workplace, and is now sung as a duet between Mary and the Birdwoman.
  • Let's Go Fly a Kite - Originally sung as the finale by the Banks family at the end of the film; has been moved to near the beginning of Act 2, where it is sung by Bert and the Banks children.

Songs

ORIGINAL LONDON CAST - "JANES & MICHAELS". Left to right (FRONT): Poppy Lee Friar, Jack Montgomery, Perry Millward, Harry Stott, Ben Watton, Jake Catterall, Nicola Bowman. Left to right (BACK): Charlotte Spencer, Faye Spittlehouse, Carrie Fletcher, and songwriter, Robert B. Sherman. (Photo Date: 19 July 2004)

Act One

Act Two

Deleted songs

Songs that were in the original movie but omitted from the musical are:


References

  1. ^ London's Mary Poppins Sets Age Limits for Theatregoers. [1]
  2. ^ Keep the kids away from Scary Poppins! [2]
  3. ^ Laurence Olivier Awards 2005. [3]
  4. ^ London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2005.[4]
  5. ^ Theatregoer's Choice Awards 2005.[5]
  6. ^ Theatregoer's Choice Awards 2007.[6]
  7. ^ Mary Poppins makes a Broadway splash.[7]
  8. ^ Broadway's 'Mary Poppins' flies but doesn't soar.[8]
  9. ^ 'Mary Poppins' makes trip to Broadway in lavish style.[9]

See also

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