Test your knowledge of the hit musical *Mary Poppins* with our collection of fascinating trivia! How well do you know the journey from page to stage, including the involvement of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh in adapting the beloved books and film into a magical production? From its award-winning London debut to its Broadway takeover, this musical has enchanted audiences worldwide. Dive in and see how many little-known facts you can discover!
International Productions
- The first foreign-language production of Mary Poppins opened in October 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and was entirely in Swedish.
- Mary Poppins has been staged internationally, including in countries like Japan, Germany, and Brazil, and has been translated into thirteen languages.
Musical Composition
- The song 'Let's Go Fly a Kite' is positioned near the beginning of Act 2 in the musical, unlike its placement as the finale in the film.
- The iconic song 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' is used differently in the musical, featured in a workplace sequence and the curtain call, with theatrical spelling actions.
- 'Let's Go Fly a Kite' is a pivotal song that occurs when Bert helps lift the spirits of Jane and Michael by flying a kite, leading to Mary Poppins' return.
- The iconic song 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' features in a scene where Mary Poppins and the children visit Mrs. Corry's magic sweet shop.
- Mary Poppins, the musical, features music and lyrics by the Sherman Brothers with additional contributions from George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
- The song 'Temper, Temper' was replaced by a new musical number called 'Playing the Game' in 2009.
- The 'Feed the Birds' song in the musical shifts context from the film, being sung as a duet between Mary and the Birdwoman after the children visit George’s workplace.
- The inclusion of the songs from the 1964 Disney film in the stage production was approved only after the death of creator P.L. Travers.
- A deleted song titled 'What I Can Do' was originally written for Mrs. Banks in 'Mary Poppins' but was replaced by 'Being Mrs. Banks'.
- The original London cast recording of 'Mary Poppins' was released shortly after its West End premiere and features most of the major musical numbers.
- An edited version of the song 'Feed the Birds' was featured in the Broadway cast recording, sung by Ashley Brown who played the original American Mary Poppins.
- The Australian cast recording of 'Mary Poppins' released on 18 February 2011, was the first to include changes made to the show's score since its debut in London.
Notable Tours
- Scarlett Strallen starred as Mary Poppins in multiple productions, including the Original West End, Original Broadway, and Melbourne productions.
- The role of George Banks saw multiple notable actors across different productions, including Aden Gillett in the West End and Simon Burke in Melbourne.
Production Facts
- The musical features a sequence where Mary Poppins brings Jane's doll Valentine and other toys to life to scold the children, inspired by the 'Bad Wednesday' chapter from the original books.
- Christian Borle and Nicolas Dromard both took on the role of Bert in the Original Broadway production of 'Mary Poppins'.
- The Bird Woman, who appears in the film and books, teaches the children to show respect and kindness to all individuals, regardless of their social status.
- Neleus, a statue that Mary Poppins brings to life, symbolizes the reconciliation and connection desired between Michael and his father.
- Mary Poppins in the musical has the ability to fly using her magical parrot-headed umbrella, consistent with her portrayal in the books and film.
- In the stage musical of Mary Poppins, the character Neleus, who was not seen in the film, comes to life and adds new elements drawn from the original books.
- The Original Broadway production of 'Mary Poppins' ran from 2006 to 2013, marking one of the longer continuous runs for the show.
- On January 22, 2010, Dick Van Dyke appeared in a cameo as Mr. Dawes Sr., a role he played in the original film, to raise funds for a local charity during a D23 event.
- Dick Van Dyke made a surprise appearance onstage during the encore of the show's opening night in Los Angeles.
- Bob Crowley, a multi-award-winning designer, was tasked with creating the stage design for Mary Poppins, contributing significantly to the visual appeal of the production.
- After astounding success, the original Broadway production of Mary Poppins closed in March 2013, making way for Disney's Aladdin.
- The musical saw a unique demonstration of support when Julie Andrews, the original Mary Poppins from the Disney film, visited and praised the cast during a 2005 performance.
- Julian Fellowes, known for his understanding of English social history, was brought on board to write the script for the Mary Poppins musical.
- The Broadway version of Mary Poppins, which opened in November 2006, was nearly identical to the West End version and won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design in a Musical.
- The original West End production of Mary Poppins opened in December 2004 at the Prince Edward Theatre and won two Olivier Awards.
- The stage adaptation of the beloved Mary Poppins books was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical Productions.
