Mary Poppins 1
MARY POPPINS
adapted for Mark Day School, Spring 2015
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Bert, Bertolt, Bertha……...Chimney Sweeps and Street Artists
Katie Nanna……...The Nanny who quits
Mrs. Brill, Ellen……...The Cook and Maid at 17 Cherry Lane
Winifred and George Banks……….The parents of Jane and Michael
Jane and Michael Banks………….The children who need a nanny
Mary Poppins………...The Nanny
Constable……….The Policeman who watches the neighborhood
Admiral Boom, Binnacle, Miss Lark, Willoughby……….The Neighbors and the dog
Bird Woman…….The Lady who sells bird seed
Mrs. Corry……..The Ageless Woman who runs the Talking Shop
Nelius……...The Statue that comes to life
Bank Chairman……..The Old Gentleman who runs the bank where Mr. Banks works
Mr. Dawes………The Son of the Chairman
Clerks, Messenger, Customers
Suffragette Sisters Chorus
Toys Chorus
Penguins & Statues Chorus
Supercalifragilistic Chorus
Chimney Sweeps Chorus
SCENE BREAKDOWNS
SCENE 1: PROLOGUE (Berts,Constable, Michael, Katie Nana, Michael, Jane, Miss Lark,
Admiral, Binnacle, Willoughby) SONG: Wind’s in the East
SCENE 2: KATIE NANNA QUITS (Katie Nanna, Mrs Brill, Ellen, Winifred, Suffragettes)
SONG: Sister Suffragettes
SCENE 3: ADVERTISING FOR A NEW NANNY (Winifred, George, Police, Jane, Michael, Mrs
Brill, Ellen)
SONG: Precision and Order and The Perfect Nanny
SCENE 4: MARY POPPINS ARRIVES (George, Winifred, Admiral, Binnacle, Jane, Michael,
Poppins)
SCENE 5: TIDYING UP THE NURSERY (Poppins, Jane, Michael, Toys Chorus)
SONG: Spoonful of Sugar
SCENE 6: OUTING IN THE PARK (Poppins, Berts, Jane, Michael, Penguins, Chorus)
SONG: Jolly Holiday
SCENE 7: THE PLAN TO GO TO THE BANK (Admiral, Binnacle, Lark, Willoughby, Ellen,
Winifred, Jane, Michael)
SCENE 8: MRS. CORRY’S TALKING SHOP (Poppins, All Berts, Michael, Jane, Mrs. Corry,
Chorus)
SONG: Supercalifragilistic
INTERMISSION
SCENE 9:
ON THE WAY TO THE BANK (Poppins, Jane, Michael, Bird Woman)
SONG: Feed the Birds
SCENE 10: A RUN ON THE BANK (George, Michael, Jane, Chairman, Dawes, Clerks,
Customers)
SONG: Precision & Order Reprise, A Man Has Dreams
SCENE 11: THE CHILDREN RUN AWAY (All Berts, Jane, Michael )
SONG: Chim Chiminy
SCENE 12: THE CHIMNEY SWEEPS (All Berts, Poppins, Jane, Michael, Sweeps, Messenger)
SONG: Step in Time
SCENE 13: THE SPECIAL DELIVERY LETTER (George, Winifred, Jane, Michael, Ellen, Mrs.
Brill, Poppins)
SCENE 14: GEORGE’S MEETING AT THE BANK (George, Dawes, Chairman, Clerks)
Mary Poppins 2
SCENE 15: THE DAY MARY POPPINS LEAVES (Mrs. Brill, Ellen, Admiral, Binnacle, George,
Winifred, Jane, Michael, Poppins, Constable, Bert, Bertolt, Bertha, Willoughby, Dawes,
Chairman, Clerks, full cast for song)
SONG: Let’s Go Fly a Kite
SCENE 1: PROLOGUE
MUSIC #1 - Prologue (Bert, Bertolt, Bertha)
(London, 1910. Autumn--a dark sky, scudding clouds. Landscape of early 20th Century
rooftops.
BERT, BERTOLT, BERTHA, chimney sweeps address the audience)
BERT
BERTOLT
BERTHA
ALL B:
WIND’S IN THE EAST, THERE’S A MIST COMING IN
LIKE SOMETHING IS BREWING’ AND ‘BOUT TO BEGIN
CAN’T PUT MY FINGER ON WHAT LIES IN STORE,
BUT I FEEL WHAT’S TO ‘APPEN, ALL ‘APPENED BEFORE.
(GEORGE appears with WINIFRED and their 2 children JANE and MICHAEL. All of them are
disconnected)
B’s alternate
A FATHER, A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER, A SON
BERT
THE THREADS OF THEIR LIVES ARE ALL RAVELLING UNDONE
BERTOLT
SOMETHING IS NEEDED TO TWIST THEM AS TIGHT
BERTHA
AS A STRING YOU MIGHT USE WHEN YOU’RE FLYING A KITE
ALL B:
CHIM CHIMINEY, CHIM CHIM CHERREE CHIM CHEROO
(MICHAEL and JANE run around with a makeshift kite, pursued by their nanny KATIE
NANNA)
MICHAEL:
Hurry up Jane! Let’s run!
KATIE NANNA: Come back here, you little blighters! You’ve got to do your lessons.
MICHAEL: (tauntingly) I can’t do my lessons if I’m flying a kite!
JANE:(teasing)
And you can’t make us. You’re only our nanny.
(The Children stamp on KATIE NANNA’s foot and succeed in losing her. Their freedom is shortlived as they run straight into the local CONSTABLE)
CONSTABLE:
Oi! Not you two ragamuffins again! Come along home! Oi -- come here!
(The CONSTABLE takes the Children away as Bert stops in front of #17 Cherry Tree Lane. MISS
LARK is coming the other with with her dog WILLOUGHBY)
ALL B:
Mornin’ Miss Lark
MISS LARK (a snob): Morning. (Willoughby the dog is thrilled to see the BERTS and starts
wagging his tail, looking for a pet, jumping up and down)
BERTOLT:
BERTHA:
MISS LARK:
Hello there, Willoughby.
Ya little scruffer
She’s hardly a scruffer. She’s a champion pedigree. Come along Willoughby
Mary Poppins 3
BERT:
MISS LARK:
Well she certainly likes to play with the riff-raff like us.
Well, I never...
(ADMIRAL with binoculars & BINNACLE enter parapet)
ADMIRAL:
By Jove, is that the beauteous Miss Lark I spy on the horizon
MISS LARK: Oh Admiral! (WILLOUGHBY growls at the Admiral) Willoughby! Naughty boy!
We like the Admiral. (She giggles and continues) Admiral, it’s almost boom time.
ADMIRAL:
That’s right Miss Lark, 5 minutes and and 6 seconds. Binnacle is the time
cannon ready?
BINNACLE:
Ready and charged, sir!
BERT:
Mornin’ Admiral and Seaman, How’s it lookin’ up there?
ADMIRAL:
Dark clouds gathering at No. 17.
BINNACLE:
The storm’s been brewing for a long time.
ALL B’s:
OF ALL LONDON’S BY-WAYS WHERE I DOFF MY CAP
THIS ONE’S THE HARDEST TO FIND ON A MAP
CHERRY TREE LANE
AS SWEET AS A SONG
BUT THE NANNIES WHO COME HERE,
THEY DON’T STAY FOR LONG
CHIM CHIMINEY, CHIM CHIM CHEREE CHIM CHEROO.
BERT:
BERTOLT:
BERTHA
ALL B
(ALL B’s snap their fingers and the interior of the house burst into life. It’s chaos: KATIE
NANNA storms toward the door with her packed bags)
Scene 2: Katie Nanna Quits/ “Sister Suffragettes”
KATIE NANA: That’s the final straw! Those children can swim to America, for all I care!
Mrs. Brill:
Well, isn’t she the heartless one. Let her go!
Ellen:
What are you talking about?! Be quiet. She can’t go.
Mrs. Brill: Don't you be trying to stop the wretched creature! Let her go, that's what I say, and
good riddance! I never liked her from the moment she set foot in the door.
Ellen
Easy for you to say, you’re the cook. But who gets stuck with the children with no
nanny in the house? Me, that's who!
Mrs. Brill:
mighty ways!
Always complaining, Ellen. You’re almost as bad as Nanny. Her and her high and
Katie Nanna: Indeed, Mrs. Brill! I wouldn't stay in this house another minute, not if you heap
me with all the jewels in the Vatican.
Ellen:
No, no, Katie Nanna, don't go!
Mary Poppins 4
Katie Nanna: Stand away from that door, my girl!
Ellen:
But what am I gonna tell the Mr and Mrs about the children?
Katie Nanna: It's no concern of mine. Those little beasts have run away from me for the last
time. I said my say, and that's all I'll say. I've done with this house forever.
Mrs. Brill: Well, hip, hip, hooray! And don't stumble on the way out, dearie.
Ellen:
Hush, Mrs. Brill. Now, now, Katie Nanna! There’s Mrs. Banks! She's home from her
women’s meeting!
(Enter Winifred Banks with a host of women suffragettes)
Mrs. Banks:
Our daughter's daughters will adore us
And we'll sing in grateful chorus
"Well done, Sister Suffragette"
Good evening, Katie Nanna, Ellen. Mrs. Brill. We had the most glorious meeting! Mrs.
Whitbourne-Allen chained herself to the wheel of the prime minister's carriage. You should've
been there.
Suffragette 1
He couldn’t go anywhere, he had to listen to our demands!
Katie Nanna
Mrs. Banks, I would like a word with you.
Mrs. Banks: And Mrs. Ainslie, she was carried off to prison, singing and scattering pamphlets
all the way! But we got her out.
Suffragette 2: And thank you for paying my bail. (handing pamphlet to Katie Nanna) Ladies,
read this and join our movement.
Katie Nanna: I'm glad you're home, madam. I've always given the best that's in me.
Mrs. Banks: On, thank you, Katie Nanna. I always knew you were one of us.
SUFFRAGETTES:
We're clearly soldiers in petticoats
And dauntless crusaders for women's votes
Though we adore men individually
We agree that as a group they're rather stupid
Katie Nanna:
Mrs. Banks.
Mrs. Banks:
Cast off the shackles of yesterday
Shoulder to shoulder into the fray
SUFFRAGETTES:
Our daughter's daughters will adore us
And they'll sing in grateful chorus
"Well done, Sister Suffragette"
Mary Poppins 5
Katie Nanna:
Being that as it may, I do not wish to offend, but
SUFFRAGETTES:
From Kensington to Billingsgate
One hears the restless cries
From every corner of the land: womankind arise
Political equality and equal rights with men
Take heart for Mrs. Pankhurst has been clapped in irons again
No more the meek and mild subserviants we
We're fighting for our rights, militantly - never you fear
Katie Nanna: If I may have a word, Mrs. Banks.
Mrs. Banks:
So cast off the shackles of yesterday
Katie Nanna: Mrs. Banks!
Suffragettes:
And shoulder to shoulder into the fray
Our daughter's daughters will adore us
And they'll sing in grateful chorus - "well done"
Katie Nanna: Mrs. Banks.
Mrs. Banks:
"Well done"
Katie Nanna: Mrs. Banks!
Mrs. Banks:
"Well done, Sister Suf--"
Katie Nanna: MRS. BANKS!!!
Mrs. Banks: What is it, Katie Nanna?
Katie Nanna: Mrs. Banks, I have something to say to you.
Mrs. Banks: Where are the children?
Katie Nanna: The children, madam, to be precise, are not here. They've disappeared again.
SUFFRAGETTES: Again! Uh-oh! See you at the next rally, Winifred! (Suffragettes exit quickly
not wanting to get involved with a family matter, but adlibbing about “Votes for Women”)
Mrs. Banks: Yes Sisters! Katie Nanna, this is really too careless of you. Doesn't it make the
third time this week?
Katie Nanna: The fourth, madam. And I for one have had my fill of it. I'm not one to speak ill
of the children, but-Mrs. Banks: Oh, please, when do you expect them home?
Katie Nanna: I really couldn't say. And now if you'd be good enough to compute my wages,
I'll-Mrs. Banks: Oh, gracious, Katie Nanna! You're not leaving? What will Mr. Banks say? He's
going to be cross enough as it is to come home and find the children missing.
ELLEN:
Mrs Banks. Hadn’t I better put your placards away? You know how the Cause
infuriates Mr. Banks.
Mary Poppins 6
Mrs. Banks:
Thank you Ellen. Katie Nanna, I beseech you. Please reconsider. Think of the
children. Think of Mr. Banks. He was just beginning to get used to you.
KATIE NANNA:
My wages, if you please.
SCENE 3: Advertising for a Perfect Nanny/ “Precision &
Order” & “Perfect Nanny”
Admiral Boom:
KATIE NANNA:
Posts, everyone! Four, three, two, one.
Now!
ADMIRAL: Fire!
(huge boom shakes the neighborhood, everything rattles, but everyone adjusts and goes on as if
nothing has happened. )
Mr. Banks(returning home from work) : Bit early tonight, aren't you, admiral?
Admiral Boom:
Nonsense. Bang on the dot, as usual. How are things in the world of finance?
Mr. Banks: Never better. Money's sound. And the British pound is the admiration of the
world.
Admiral Boom Good man. Banks, shouldn't wonder if you weren't steering into a nasty piece
of weather right over your house. Banks! Do you hear me?
Binnacle:
Mr Banks, storm’s coming to you and your family. It’s gonna be a doozie.
Mr. Banks: (as Katie Nanna is exiting, GEORGE enters his house) Hello, Katie
Nanna. Where are you off to?
Katie Nanna: Hmph! I quit! Mr. Banks. And nothing will persuade me otherwise, so don’t
bother trying.
Mr. Banks: Good gracious!! (to Winifred) Not another one! Winifred, Why can’t you keep the
nannies in control?
WINIFRED: Well, the children aren’t easy, dear.
GEORGE:
Then why can’t you keep the children in control?
WINIFRED: Dear, the children are exuberant. I thought Katie Nanna would be firm with
them. She always looked so cross.
GEORGE:
Winifred, never confuse efficiency with a liver complaint. All right, then we must
advertise for another nanny right away. Now, where are the children? They need a talking to.
Mrs. Banks: They're not here, dear. They're missing...again. Katie Nanna has looked
everywhere.
Mr. Banks: Very well. Ellen, Mrs Brill, get on your coats and go at once to find them.
ELLEN:
It always falls on us.
Mary Poppins 7
GEORGE:
I don’t want my evening disrupted by their disappearance. (he opens the door to
speed ELLEN and MRS KRILL on their way. CONSTABLE was just about to knock. MICHAEL,
JANE are with him)
Constable:
I believe these valuables belong to you, sir.
Mrs. Banks
Jane! Michael! Oh, my incorrigible little darlings.
Mr. Banks: Winifred, please don't be emotional. Thank you, Constable. Children, come here
at once and explain yourselves... Well?
Jane:
I'm sorry we lost Katie Nanna, Father. You see, it was windy. And the kite was too
strong for us.
Constable: In a manner of speaking, sir, it was the kite that ran away, not the children.
Mr. Banks
Thank you, Constable. I think I can manage this.
MICHAEL: Actually it wasn't a very good kite. We made it ourselves. Perhaps, Father, if you
helped us to make one-CONSTABLE:
things.
Ah, that's the ticket, sir. Get your pops to build yer one. Kites are skittish
Mr. Banks: Excuse me Constable, thank you for returning the children. Now good night.
POLICE:
Jane:
Good night sir. Good night Missus. Good night, you little tikes.
Thank you, Constable.
Mrs. Banks: I'm awfully sorry about this, George..
Mr. Banks: Ellen, take Jane and Michael to the nursery straightaway.
Ellen:
Yes, sir. I knew it. When all's said and done, who bears the brunt of everything around
here? Me, that's who! They don't want an honest, hard-workin' girl around here. They need a
zookeeper.
Mrs. Banks: I'm sorry, dear, I'll try to do better next time.
Mr. Banks: Next time?
MUSIC #2 - Cherry Tree Lane, skip to George’s section (George)
PRECISION AND ORDER
THAT’S ALL THAT I ASK
THE RUNNING OF A HOUSEHOLD, A STRAIGHTFORWARD TASK.
THE CHILDREN, THE SERVANTS
ARE ALL YOUR DOMAIN
WHILST I REMAIN THE SOVEREIGN OF CHERRY TREE LANE
(hear a thunderclap of the impending storm)
GEORGE: My dear, you've engaged six nannies in the last four months! And they've all been
unqualified disasters.
Mrs. Banks: I quite agree.
Mary Poppins 8
Mr. Banks:
A NANNY SHOULD GOVERN
A NANNY SHOULD RULE
A NANNY IS A PARAGON WHO SUFFERS NO FOOL
A NANNY’S A STALWART
OUR CHILDREN WOULD GAIN
BY HAVING SUCH A NANNY IN CHERRY TREE LANE
WINIFRED:
GEORGE:
Of course, George, I’ll write the advertisement now-SO TAKE CONTROL OF SITUATIONS
SHOW YOUR AUTHORITY WHEN INTERVIEWING STAFF
YOU KNOW YOUR ROLE, THEY KNOW THEIR STATIONS
EFFICIENCY AND FORETHOUGHT CUT THE JOBS IN HALF
GEORGE:
Choosing a nanny requires insight, balanced judgment, and an ability to read
character. On second thought, I’d better do it. (he takes the pen and paper from Winifred to
finish writing the ad)
ELLEN returning, MRS BRILL: PRECISION AND ORDER
HE WANTS NOTHING LESS
IT’S LIKE AN ARMY BARRACKS
YES, AND WE’RE IN THE MESS
NO WONDER THE NANNIES ARE DRIVEN INSANE
WE’RE LIVING IN A MADHOUSE IN CHERRY TREE
LANE
GEORGE:
nonsense.
Now, let’s see--- Wanted. Uh, no. Uh, required. Nanny: firm, respectable, no
Jane:
Father?
Mr. Banks:
Yes?
WINIFRED:
Jane:
What are you holding dear?
We’ve written our own advertisement, Mother.
WINIFRED:
Goodness, that was fast.
GEORGE:
Children in charge of writing job qualifications. Absolutely absurd.
WINIFRED:
Now, George, let’s hear it.
GEORGE:
Oh, very well.
Jane:
"Wanted: a nanny for two adorable children."
Mr. Banks:
"Adorable." well, that's debatable, I must say.
Mary Poppins 9
MUSIC #3 The Perfect Nanny (Jane, Michael)
If you want this choice position
Jane:
Have a cheery disposition
Mr. Banks: Jane, I don't-Jane:
Michael
Rosy cheeks, no warts
That's the part I put in.
Jane:
Play games, all sorts
You must be kind you must be witty
Very sweet and fairly pretty
Mr. Banks: Well, of all the ridicu-Mrs. Banks
George, please!
Jane:
Take us on outings give us treats
Sing songs bring sweets
Never be cross or cruel never give us castor oil or gruel
Love us as a son and daughter
And never smell of barley water
Michael
I put that in, too.
Jane:
If you won't scold and dominate us
We will never you give you cause to hate us
We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see
Put toads in your bed or pepper in your tea.
Hurry, nanny. Many thank. Sincerely
Jane & Michael:
Jane and Michael Banks
Mr. Banks: Thank you. Most interesting. Now, off to your nursery. Don’t forget, you’re still in
trouble.
Mrs. Banks: They were only trying to help. They're just children.
GEORGE:
And now I think we've had quite enough of all this nonsense.
(GEORGE tears up the letter, tosses it into the fireplace, a gust of wind takes it out of the
chimney and into the sky.)
SCENE 4: Mary Poppins Arrives
(Next morning, bright and early, from the parapet)
Admiral Boom: Weather report?
Binnacle:
Admiral Boom:
Ready, sir.
I'll take the report, Seaman Binnacle.
Binnacle:
The wind has changed, Sir. Seems to be comin' in from a new quarter.
Mary Poppins 10
Admiral Boom
So it is.
Mr. Binnacle:
Sir?
Admiral Boom
What is it? We’re 10 seconds to the hour!
Binnacle
An unidentified flying object ‘o some kind off the port bow.
(Mary Poppins is flying in)
Admiral:
Blimey, where’d I put my binoculars?! I can’t see a thing. Too late. Posts,
everyone! Four, three, two, one. FIRE! (the neighborhood rocks from cannon fire. Meanwhile,
inside No.17 Cherry Lane...)
WINIFRED: George, dear, the cannon flummoxed you. May I adjust your carnation? You’re
leaving for work a little early this morning.
GEORGE: (holding the letter) Yes, Winifred. I want to put the advertisement in the postal box
this morning. (knock at the door) Rather early for visitors.
Mary Poppins:
Good Morning!
GEORGE:
Yes?
POPPINS:
I’ve come in answer to the advertisement.
WINIFRED:
Oh my goodness
GEORGE:
We haven’t placed any advertisement, at least not yet.
POPPINS
You are the parents of Jane and Michael Banks, are you not?
GEORGE & WINIFRED: Yes, we are.
POPPINS
And you are looking for a nanny?
GEORGE & WINIFRED:
Yes, we are…
POPPINS Very well then, Now, let’s see (takes the children’s mended letter out of her
pocket) “Plays games, all sorts.” Which I most certainly can. “Take us on outings, give us treats.”
(George looks around uneasily to the children and Winifred, then back at Poppins)
JANE:
Michael, it’s out advertisement!
POPPINS:
“Rosy cheeks and fairly pretty.” There’s no objection on that score, I hope?
GEORGE:
Oh no.
POPPINS:
I’m glad to hear it.
Mr. Banks: You brought your references, I presume. May I see them?
Poppins:
mind.
Oh, I make it a point never to give references. A very old-fashioned idea to my
Mr. Banks:
Why, I’ve never heard of anythin----
Mary Poppins 11
Winifred:
George, we must follow what’s new in fashion, don’t you think?
Mary Poppins:
Good thinking, Mrs Banks. You are a modern woman. Item 4:
Mr. Banks:
May I? Eh, this paper? Where did you get it from? I thought I tore it up.
GEORGE:
Oh really
Poppins:
Excuse me. Item 4: “never cross or cruel” I am cross when children misbehave
and refuse to follow instructions
WINIFRED: You’ll find that the children are very nice (MICHAEL and JANE come
screaming in and stare rather rudely at Poppins)
Poppins:
On second thoughts, I believe a trial period would be wise. Hmm. I'll give you one
week. I'll know by then. Thank you.
WINIFRED: And you are…?
POPPINS:
Mary Poppins. Close your mouth please, Michael. We are not a codfish. Well, don't
stand there staring. Best foot forward. Spit spot! (Poppins, Jane, Michael exit towards nursery)
GEORGE:
Did we just hire her?
WINIFRED: I believe we did.
MUSIC #?? for Scene change.
SCENE 5: Tidy Up the Nursery/ “Spoonful of Sugar”
(Scene changes to the nursery with beds, a special effects trunk, and a mess of clothes and toys)
Jane:
I'm afraid the nursery isn't very tidy.
Poppins:
It is rather like a bear pit, isn't it?
Michael:
That's a funny sort of bag.
Poppins:
Carpet.
Michael:
You mean to carry carpets in?
Poppins
No. Made of. Well, first things first. I always say, the place to hang a hat is on a
hat stand. (Poppins pulls a full size hatstand out of her bag & hangs her hat, then) Every indoor
room needs a little bit of the outdoor world (pulls out a potted plant and places it in room)
Michael:
There-- but there was nothing in it.
Poppins:
Never judge things by their appearance. Even carpetbags. I'm sure I never do.
Michael:
We better keep an eye on this one. She's tricky.
Jane:
She's wonderful.
Poppins:
Much better! Now, let me see. That's funny. I always carry it with me. It must be
here somewhere.
Michael:
What?
Mary Poppins 12
Poppins:
Michael
My tape measure.
What do you want it for?
Poppins:
I want to see how you two measure up. I know it's down here somewhere. Ah, haha, ha-ha! Here it is. Good. Come along, then. Quickly. Head up, Michael. Don't slouch. Just as I
thought. Extremely stubborn and suspicious.
Michael:
I am not!
Poppins:
See for yourself.
Michael:
"Extremely stubborn and sus--"
Poppins:
Suspicious. Now you, Jane. Mmm. "Thoughtless, short-tempered. Doesn't put
things away."
Jane:
And what about YOUR measurement?
Poppins:
every way."
Jane:
Poppins:
Jane:
Poppins:
Jane:
Poppins:
Jane:
Very well. Hold this for me. As I expected. "Mary Poppins. Practically perfect in
Mary Poppins is a lovely name.
Thank you. I've always liked it. Now, shall we get on with it?
Get on with what?
In your advertisement, did you not specifically request to play games?
Oh, yes!
Very well, then. Our first game is called “Tidy Up."
I’m not sure I like the sound of that game.
Michael:
I told you she was tricky.
Poppins:
Shall we begin?
Jane:
It is a game, isn't it, Mary Poppins?
Poppins:
Well, it depends on your point of view. You see, in every job that must be done,
there is an element of fun.
(During the song, toys will come out of the trunk to help clean up the room, the children are
amazed and join in. Everything is put to rights by magic and real effort. )
MUSIC #8 - SPOONFUL OF SUGAR (Poppins, Jane,
Michael,Toy Chorus)
(Poppins piles clothes, toys, etc them into the childrens arms, they dump everything into a heap
in a trunk.)
Poppins
You find the fun, and snap! The job's a game
And every task you undertake
Mary Poppins 13
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark, a spree it's very clear to see
That a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down. Medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way
(Poppins snaps at trunk. It magically opens & all the rag dolls, stuffed animals, etc have come
to life, climb out of the box, place themselves around the room)
The honeybees that fetch the nectar from the flowers to the comb
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip from every flower that they sip
And hence
TOYS:
And hence (toys begin to straighten and clean)
They find
TOYS:
They find
POPPINS & TOYS:
Their task is not a grind
For a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down. Medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way
JANE & MICHAEL
join)
AHHHHHHHHHHH. (flabbergasted by the magic & now inspired to
TOYS, POPPINS,
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
JANE & MICHAEL
The medicine?
TOYS
Go Down, Medicine
Jane & MIchael
Go down
TOYS, Popp, J&M
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In the most delightful way
TOYS
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
JANE & MICHAEL
THE MEDICINE GO DOWN
POPPIN
MEDICINE GO DOWN
TOYS
JUST A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR HELPS THE MEDICINE GO DOWN
Mary Poppins 14
MICHAEL & JANE
IN A MOST DELIGHTFUL WAY
TOYS, M&J, POPP
IN A MOST DELIGHTFUL WAY
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down, medicine go down.
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
Mary
In the most delightful way
JANE & MICHAEL
In the most delightful
Toys, J&M, Popp
In the most delightful way!
POPPINS (to helper toys) Thank you. That will be quite sufficient. Back you go (a little exit
music for the toys) Now children. Hats and coats, please. It's time for our outing in the park.
Michael
Jane:
I don't want an outing. I want to play “Tidy Up” again.
Yes, let’s do it again.
Poppins:
There will be ample opportunities to clean your room. Come along, please. Spit
spot! And off we go.
Scene 6: An Outing to the Park/ “Jolly
Holiday”
MUSIC #5A - All Me own Work……….(Bert, Bertolt, Bertha)
(During scene change we hear a thunderclap as the light come up on Park with Street light,
benches, fountain with statues (?!) of Penguins. The Berts are chalking on the ground)
BERT:
Chim Chiminey
BERTOLT:
Chim Chiminey
BERTHA:
Chim Chim Cheroo
ALL B’s:
We Does What We Likes and We Likes What we do.
BERT:
Today I’m a screever
BERTOLT
And as you can see
ALL Bs:
A Screever’s an Artist of Highest Degree
BERTHA
And it’s all me own work
ALL B’s
From me own memory
CONSTABLE:
BERT:
There you go again, defacing the sidewalks.
Aww, Constable, we’re cheering up the place.
CONSTABLE: Why dya keep chalking pictures when it’s gonna rain, and they’ll wash away?
BERTHA:
Because art improves the world, Constable.
Mary Poppins 15
CONSTABLE: Is that so? (Someone strolling in the park tosses a coin in Bert’s hat.)
BERTOLT: And sometimes, when you’re lucky, it improves your pocketbook. (to stroller)
Thank you ma’am.
CONSTABLE: Well have at it, then, Rembrandts. It’s a waste ‘a time, in my book. Nothing like
a regular job with regular hours and a pension to look forward to. (exits)
(All Berts look at each other and grimace at the prospect of a 50 hour workweek. Enter
Poppins, Jane, Michael. They see her and instantly hop up to greet her)
BERT’s
Mary Poppins! (improvise greetings)
MICHAEL How do you know them? You only just arrived.
POPPINS
I wasn’t born one minute before I walked into your house, Michael Banks. Bert,
Bertolt, Bertha, have you met these two?
BERTOLT: We seen ‘em running’ about chasin’ a kite.
MICHAEL: It isn’t a real kite. We don’t know how to make it work.
BERTHA:
JANE:
So what are you hooligans up to today?
Mary Poppins says it’s a game. It’s called “A Walk in the Park.”
MICHAEL: Some game. I’d rather eat spinach. And we arent’ hooligans. We’re respectable
child.
BERT:
chance.
Oh, is that so. We apologizes. I think you’ll find it a very jolly game, if you give it a
BERTOLT: When you’re with Mary Poppins...
BERTHE:
BERT:
ALL Bs:
JANE:
“A Walk in the Park” is like a park you’ve never been to before.
Like a park you’ve never dreamed of before.
The most unusual things can happen.
Mary Poppins, why are we having a conversation with...with….these people
MICHAEL: Father would never approve.
POPPINS:
JANE:
POPPINS:
ALL B’s:
Oh really, and why is that?
Well to start with, they’re very dirty.
Bert, Bertolt, Bertha. How would you like to join us in our game ?
We’d be honored to play “A Walk in the Park”. (The children are scandalized)
BERT: (pointing to his chalk drawing) Now this is how I see the park.
JANE:
You’re sky is purple, that’s just plain silly.
MICHAEL: There’s colorful creatures in your fountain, not gray statues.
JANE:
It’s not at all like a real park
Mary Poppins 16
MUSIC #6- JOLLY HOLIDAY……..(Bert, Bertha, Bertolt, Poppins, Jane Michael,
Constable?, Chorus, Penguins)
ALL B’s:
All that it takes is a spark, then something plain as a park becomes a wonderland
BERT:
ALL YOU ‘AVE TO DO IS LOOK ANEW,
THEN YOU’LL UNDERSTAND…
WHY IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY
MARY MAKES YER HEART SO LIGHT
POPPINS:
BERTOLT:
Oh, really!
WHEN THE DAY IS GREY AND ORDINARY,
MARY MAKES THE SUN SHINE BRIGHT.
POPPINS:
BERTHA:
You do talk nonsense, Bertolt.
OH, ‘APPINESS IS BLOOMIN ALL AROUND ‘ER.
THE DAFFODILS ARE SMILING AT THE DOVE
POPPINS:
BERT
I haven’t the faintest idea what -WHEN MARY ‘OLDS YOUR ‘AND, YOU FEEL SO GRAND.
YOUR ‘EART STARTS BEATIN’
ALL B’S
POPPINS
LIKE A BIG BRASS BAND
Sh! The lot of you are all brass.
ALL B’s (Whispering) OH, IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY
NO WONDER THAT IT’S MARY THAT WE LOVE!
POPPINS
ALL B’s
Come along, children.
Off we go
(BERTS & POPPINS exit. JANE & MICHAEL disgruntled, sit on a bench near fountain statues.
Chorus of drab, boring grannies enter)
JANE & MICHAEL
BORING, JUST LIKE OTHER NANNIES
THINKING PARKS ARE GOOD FOR US
IT’S JUST STATUES, DUCKS AND GRANNIES
I DON’T UNDERSTAND ALL THE FUSS
JANE
IS SHE DOING IT TO SPITE US?
MICHAEL:
WE COULD LOSE HER FOR A LARK
JANE
PERHAPS IT’S ALL A PLOT
Mary Poppins 17
MICHAEL
I’LL TELL YOU WHAT
SHE SEEMS SO DIFFERENT
JANE & MICHAEL:
BUT I BET SHE’S NOT.
THERE’S NOTHING TO EXCITE US IN (creaking sound)
THE (Another creak)
PARK (Creaking louder and more confident)
JANE
What was that?
NELEUS:
You’re quite wrong you know.
(JANE and MICHAEL are terrified by the sight of a statue coming to life. They attempt to hide
from it)
MICHAEL: What...Who are you…?
NELEUS:
I’m Neleus...child of Poseidon. Surely you know that. You’ve walked by me often
enough. I’ve waited half a century to play, “A Walk in the Park”
MICHAEL & JANE: What’s happening?!?!
(POPPINS and BERTS return in outlandishly bright summer clothes. As they sing, the park is
transformed to the most beautiful colors. POPPINS weave among the people strolling in the
park take off their drab coats to transform into brightly-colored lively people. )
ALL B’s:
NELIUS:
POPPINS
STROLLERS
AIN’T IT A GLORIOUS DAY
RIGHT AS A MORNIN’ IN MAY
I FEEL LIKE I COULD FLY
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE GRASS SO GREEN
OR A PURPLE SKY
PURPLE, PURPLE SKY
ALL B’S & NELIUS
OH IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY
BETTER THAN WE’VE EVER KNOWN
POPPINS
YOU CAN ASK THE PASSING STATUARY
NELIUS,BERTS,POPPINS STROLLERS NOTHING’S EVER SET IN STONE
POLICE (In a Seuss-style brightly colored hat instead of constable hat) Morning Mary!
POPPINS:
Morning Constable
BERTS:
Who painted your hat, sir?
CONSTABLE: Why, I did. (takes out a paintbrush instead of a billy club) Think I’m ready for
the royal academy? (spins Nelius around)
CONSTABLE
EACH CHILD OUT IN A FOG
WILL STAND AGOG
TO SEE A STATUE TAKE A GENTLE JOG
BERTS & NELIUS
OH, IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY
NELIUS
NO WONDER THAT IT’S MARY THAT WE LOVE
POPPINS
IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH YOU FRIENDS
GENTLE FOLK LIKE YOU ARE FEW
THOUGH YOU’RE ALL JUST DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH, DEARS
Mary Poppins 18
UNDERNEATH YOUR BLOOD IS BLUE
YOUR BLOOD IS BLUE!
That means royalty!!!
YOU’D NEVER THINK OF PRESSING YOUR ADVANTAGE
FOREBEARANCE IS THE HALLMARK OF YOUR CREED
A PERSON NEEDN’T FEAR WHEN YOU ARE NEAR
YOUR SWEET GENTILITY IF CRYSTAL-CLEAR
ALL:
IT’S CRYSTAL CLEAR!
MICHAEL & JANE:
OH, IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH YOU, FRIENDS!
BERTS/NELIUS/POLICE
IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY
ALL
A JOLLY, JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH YOU
(During instrumental dance section of 8 Eights, Fountain Statues throw off their concrete and
transform into crazy colorful body sack creatures who dance together and with POPPINS,
BERTS, NELIUS, & POLICE and the Park Strollers. Creatures get in a chase, dance sequence
with NELIUS, JANE, MICHAEL)
JANE & MICHAEL:
Mary Poppins...eh help, please.
POPPINS:
You’ve only got yourselves to blame, children.
(dance continues are SACK CREATURES, NELIUS get all the strollers to dance)
ALL:
JANE:
POPPINS:
STROLLERS
OH, ITS A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY
MARY MAKES YOUR HEART SO LIGHT.
WHEN THE DAY IS GREY AND
ORDINARY,
MARY MAKES THE SUN SHINE BRIGHT
OH, IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY
NO WONDER THAT IT’S MARY THAT WE
LOVE.
BERT/PENGUINS/POLICE/NELIUS
LET’S GO FOR A JAUNTY SAUNTER
WE ARE BOUND TO MAKE A MARK
LOOKS LIKE ALL OF US WERE BORN TO
TAKE A PROMENADE IN THE PARK.
IT’S NO WONDER THAT IT’S MARY THAT WE
LOVE.
NO WONDER THAT IT’S MARY THAT WE LOVE.
(A rainstorm breaks. POPPINS has disappeared during last chorus to change back to ordinary
clothes. Everyone puts back on the drab coats on stage. Statues return to their stone selves.
Color drains. JANE & MICHAEL are dumbfounded. )
music #6B-bit of imagination………...ORCHESTRA
JANE:
Did you see what I saw?
MICHAEL Did that really happen?
(POPPINS Re-enters with umbrella open)
POPPINS:
Anything can happen... if you let it. Now come along children, before you’re
soaked to the bone.
MICHAEL: That was some game!
JANE:
Mary Poppins, how long will you stay with us?
POPPINS:
We’ll see
MICHAEL You won’t leave us, will you, Mary Poppins?
POPPINS:
JANE
I’ll stay until the wind changes.
Until the wind changes?!?
Mary Poppins 19
POPPINS:
Gracious, we need to get you home. Don’t dawdle, now. Spit spot!
MICHAEL: I can’t wait to tell Father and Mother.
(Lights out. Set up house interior. Next morning.)
Scene 7: The Plan to go to the Bank
Admiral:
Glorious morning, Binnacle. Glorious! No one sleeps this morning. Put in a double
charge of powder.
Binnacle: A double charge? Aye, aye, sir.
Admiral:
Shake things up a bit, what?
MISS LARK: Good morning, Admiral Boom.
ADMIRAL: Good Morning, Miss Lark. Glorious Day to you.
MISS LARK: Aren’t you going to greet my little pup?
ADMIRAL:
I don’t cow-tow to lapdogs, Madam
(WILLOUGHY snarls and barks at the admiral)
BINNACLE:
Maybe I should aim the cannon at the mongrel, sir?
MISS LARK: Of all the nerve! (she exits in a huff) Willoughby, you are not a mongrel. You
are a pedigree, and the apple of everyone’s eye.
ADMIRAL:
So much for the glorious morning.
(Meanwhile, in No 17 Cherry Lane…)
Mrs. Banks: Lovely, lovely morning, Ellen.
Ellen:
Indeed it is, ma'am. Absolutely, perfect.
Mrs. Banks: Have you put the overripe tomatoes in my carryall?
Ellen:
Yes, ma'am.
Mrs. Banks: After our ladies protest meeting at the Albert Hall, we're all going to Downing
street, to throw things at the prime minister.
ELLEN:
Then I’ll put in some eggs, too, Missus.
MRS BANKS: Oh, how distinguished you look this morning, George.
(Strange singing noises from the kitchen)
Mr. Banks: What's all that fearful caterwauling in the kitchen?
Mrs. Banks: It's Mrs. Brill singing.
Mr. Banks: The Cook singing? What's wrong with her?
Mrs. Banks: She's happy as a cricket. As a matter of fact, since you hired Mary Poppins, the
most extraordinary thing seems to have come over the household.
Mr. Banks: Is that so?
Mrs. Banks: Take Ellen for instance. She hasn't broken a dish all morning.
Mr. Banks: Really? Well, that is extraordinary.
Mrs. Banks: And another thing. She and Cook usually fight like cats and dogs, but today-Mrs. Brill:(singing)Let me hold the door for you, Ellen dear. (Ellen enters with coffee on a tray
for GEORGE)
Ellen:
Thanks ever so, duckie.
Mr. Banks: That infernal singing, if you can call it that, is giving me a headache.
Mary Poppins 20
Ellen:
Yes, sir. Would you kindly lower your voice Mrs. Brill. You're giving the master a
headache.
Mrs. Brill: Ellen, thank you for informing me. Of course, sir. I'm so sorry you're not feeling well
this glorious morning.
Mr. Banks: Who said I'm not feeling well? I'm fit as a fiddle. I just don't understand why
everyone's so confoundedly cheerful!
Jane & Michael: Good morning, father. We had the most wonderful day yesterday.
GEORGE:
Yes. yes. No more cheerful chatter right now, or I’ll be late to work. (packing up
his briefcase)
JANE:
Mary Poppins taught us how to play, “Tidy Up.”
WINIFRED It’s a wonderful game dear. You should see the nursery, it’s never been so orderly.
GEORGE:
JANE:
a thing.
Cleaning is a game, now, is it?
Oh yes father, the toys came to life and did all the work, spit spot, we hardly had to do
MICHAEL: And then Mary Poppins made us play “A Walk in the Park” in the park.
JANE:
And the statues came to life in glorious colors--
MICHAEL And the sky turned purple-JANE:
And we danced with street artists--
WINIFRED: How delightful, my dears.
GEORGE:
What are you going on about, children? Utter nonsense.
POPPINS: (enters putting on her hat and buttoning her coat) I quite agree. Perfect nonsense,
children.
MICHAEL: But Mary Poppins, you made it happen. It was real.
POPPINS:
JANE:
Tut, tut Michael. We don’t contradict our elders.
Mary Poppins! What games are we going to play today?!
GEORGE: (Ellen helps George on with his coat. George is surprised by her kindness and isn’t
paying too much attention to the conversation) Too many games will spoil the children. Don’t
waste their minds on frivolous fantasies. Winifred, see that Mary Poppins makes them do
something serious today.
MICHAEL: Father, come fly a kite with us.
GEORGE:
Are you out of your mind, young man?! Who is to pay the bills if I drop everything
to play with you?
POPPINS:
No, Michael, that’s far too ‘frivolous.’
Mary Poppins 21
GEORGE: (surprised) I quite agree. Now, Mary Poppins, the children have been talking
extravagantly and I find it disturbing--purple skies? statues coming to life? dancing with street
people? These are highly questionable outings, and must be discontinued immediately.
JANE & MICHAEL Oh Father, we were having fun.
GEORGE:
Precisely the problem. They need to learn about the seriousness of life.
WINIFRED: But George, they’re just children.
GEORGE:
Do you understand me, Mary Poppins?
POPPINS:
Indubitably. And that is why they propose to see your workplace.
GEORGE/MICHAEL/JANE/WINIFRED:
POPPINS:
What?!
To follow in your footsteps, to learn practicality, and finance.
GEORGE:
Well, I didn’t exactly mean for them--
POPPINS:
And that is why, children, today your father wants you to visit him at the bank. (all
look perplexed. to JANE and MICHAEL) Agreed? (they nod tentatively. Poppins addresses
George) I assume you agree, sir. It was your idea.
GEORGE:
It was? Er...um...yes, I suppose so.
WINIFRED: Excuse me dear, to your posts everyone.
ADMIRAL , BINNACLE & WINIFRED: Four, three, two one, FIRE!
(cannon shakes the neighborhood)
GEORGE:
Winifred, did I just agree to take the children to the bank?
WINIFRED: It certainly sounded that way, dear. George, your carnation! (she fixes it)
MARY POPPINS: I’ll deliver the children to you this afternoon, sir.
JANE: (calling after their father) Goodbye Father. We’re going on an outing with you!
MICHAEL: See you at the bank, Father. And afterwards, perhaps we can fly a kite together.
GEORGE: (not hearing the children, exiting to work) Just what the children need--a tour of the
bank. A capital idea! Good thinking, George. Quite right. Good idea. Quite right. Good idea.
Quite right. Good boom! Admiral!
MUSIC ?? to cover scene change……………...Orchestra
Scene 8: Mrs. Corry’s Talking Shop/”Supercalifragilistic…”
(Bert and Willoughby enter one side of stage; Jane, Michael, and Poppins enter opposite side)
Jane: Oh, Michael, we’re off to the city! And we'll see all the sights, and father can point them
out to us.
MICHAEL:
JANE:
Words can hardly describe how I feel right now.
Happy?
Mary Poppins 22
MICHAEL:
JANE:
Yes, but more than that
Excited?
MICHAEL: More than that.
JANE:
Nervous?
MICHAEL: Yes, a little, but different from that.
JANE:
Eager?
MICHAEL: More than that!
JANE:
POPPINS:
Well there isn’t a word then.
Oh, there might be. We just haven’t thought of it yet. Be patient, youngsters
(Willoughby barks noisily at Berts)
BERT:
All right, all ready, we hear ya, ragamuffin.
BERTOLT: You don’t say. I’m not sure you want our advice.
BERTHA:
She’s over there. You can ask her yourself.
(Willoughby barks some more)
JANE:
Isn’t that Miss Lark’s dog, Willoughby?
POPPINS:
Don’t interrupt when someone’s barking. (to Willoughby) You were saying?
(Willoughby barks some more, Poppins answers in an acid tone) Uh, not so fast, please. I can't
understand a word you're saying. Again? Och! (Willoughby sneezes) Bless you. Really? Well,
she’ll be terribly upset. (bark) I understand. (bark) Asparagus and chicken every day. Yes, that
could get tedious. (bark) But do you know enough tricks? (Willoughby shakes, begs, rolls over,
hops on two legs) Very impressive, but I’m not sure they’d take you. (Willoughby whimpers)
MICHAEL: What did she say. What did she say?
BERTHA:
BERT:
She’s tired of living at home and eating healthy.
She wants to run away to join the circus. (Willoughby nuzzles Bert)
MISS LARK: (offstage) Willoughby! Come here. Where are you? (entering) Willoughby. It’s all
right. Mummy is here! (Willoughby barks some more). You know, sometimes you’d almost
think she could talk. (she smothers him in kisses and they rush off).
JANE:
POPPINS:
BERT:
Mary Poppins, how did you learn to talk dog?
How do you think? Master the grammar-Practice when you can
BERTOLT: And if you like slang--.
All B’s:
Talk to mongrels (motioning to Willoughby/Miss Lark) and avoid the pedigrees.
Mary Poppins 23
POPPINS:
shop’.
Come along, now. Off to the bank. Spit spot. We can’t stand around all day ‘talking
MICHAEL: A talking shop?! What is that?
JANE:
It’s an expression, Michael.
MICHAEL: What can you buy in a talking shop?
JANE:
You can’t buy anything. Don’t be silly.
POPPINS:
That’s a perfectly reasonable question, Michael. You buy conversations, of course.
It’s a talking shop.
JANE:
POPPINS:
JANE:
BERTHA:
Mary Poppins, you’re teasing us, aren’t you?
I never tease.
Well, I’ve never seen a talking shop.
That’s because there’s only one.
BERT:
And it belongs to Mrs. Corry.
JANE:
Who is Mrs. Corry?
All B’s:
Who is Mrs. Corry?!?!
BERT:
Mrs. Corry is older than anyone in the world.
BERTOLT: She talked to William before he went conquering.
BERTHA:
BERT:
POPPINS:
--to Vlad before he went impaling
--to Alexander when he weren’t so great.
We’ll have to call on her shop in the park.
MICHAEL: WHAT shop in the park?!? I’ve been there a million times and never seen one.
POPPINS:
Then you weren’t looking carefully. Sometimes, the most interesting things are
right under your nose.
MUSIC #10A - Talking Shop…………...Orchestra
(Mrs. Corry’s shop magically appears behind them. It’s a banner with letters on sticks, held up
by customers. They wheel in a cart. Mrs Corry is surrounded by customers demanding
conversations.)
CUSTOMER 1: Mrs. Corry, I want a political conversation. How can you be out of
them? There’s no end to politics!
CUSTOMER 2: My granny is hard of hearing. I need a really LOUD conversation
CUSTOMER 3: I need a conversation that will convince my father to buy me a pony.
CUSTOMER 4: Excuse me, Do you have any conversation starters that are good when you’re out
with a boy?
Mary Poppins 24
CUSTOMER 5: I need a joke.
MRS CORRY: How about this one, “Conversationalist #1 says: There once was a man with a
wooden leg named Smith. Conversationalist #2 replies: Oh, Really, What was his other leg
named?”
(All the customers moan, but Michael laughs uproariously)
CUSTOMER 5: No, I don’t want that one. It’s lame.
(Now, all the customers laugh)
MRS. CORRY: Well sorry folks. That’s it. I’ve run out of conversations. Lookahere...if it isn’t
Mary Poppins! What can I do for you? I’m afraid we’re all out of aphorisms, adages, and simple
truths.
POPPINS:
Oh dear, that’s my mainstay.
MRS. CORRY: There’s been a run on everything. I’m even out of words. So many chatterboxes
today!...But let me see what I have left. Oooh, I do have some letters.
POPPINS:
I’d like an ounce.
MRS CORRY:
POPPINS:
MUSIC #10B - Choosing the Letters…………….Orchestra
That’ll be 15 letters. Go on, take your pick.
Jane, You can choose seven.
JANE:
I’ve got a D G R U C L and I
(the customers are very impressed)
MICHAEL: How can you make a conversation out them?
POPPINS:
Your turn now. Michael, seven more.
MICHAEL: A F S E T O and P
(the customers are even more impressed)
POPPINS:
And I’ll choose an...X
(the customers are awestruck. will she be able to make a conversation with it?!?)
Now, what words can we make?
JANE:
Well I see ‘Dog” and ‘Cat.’
MRS CORRY: ‘Rautoplex’ That’s nine
BERT:
‘Lapitoferus’
BERTOLT: That’s 11!
BERTHA:
JANE:
We’re almost there.
Those don’t count. You made them up.
MRS. CORRY: And where do you think words came from in the first place? Somebody had to
make them up.
BERT:
That’s right. You shoulda seen the new-fangled words Mrs. Corry sold to Shakespeare.
Mary Poppins 25
JANE & MICHAEL: You knew Shakespeare?!
MRS CORRY: Pshaw! He got most of his ideas from conversations he bought here!
POPPINS:
You know, we can always use the same letter more than once. Now let me
see...super..calif...ragil..istic...expi...ali... docious.
MUSIC #11 Supercalifragilistic……. (Poppins, Berts, Jane, Michael, Mrs. Corry,
Customers)
MICHAEL: That’s not a word!!!
POPPINS:
Of course it’s a word. And unless I’m very much mistaken, I think it’s going to
prove a rather useful one.
When trying to express oneself, it’s frankly quite absurd
To leaf through lengthy lexicons to find the perfect
word.
A little Spontaneity keeps conversation keen.
You need to find a way to say precisely what you mean.
CORRY
POPPINS/CORRY
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
CORRY
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious
POPPINS
If you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound precocious.
CORRY/POPPINS
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
CORRY/CUSTOMERS
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
JANE:
But that doesn’t mean anything!
CORRY/CUSTOMERS
POPPINS:
It can mean exactly what you want it to.
CORRY/CUSTOMERS
POPPINS
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
When stone-age men were chatting
Simply grunting would suffice
CORRY/CUSTOMERS UGH!
ALL B’s
Though if they’d heard this word
They might have used it once or twice
CORRY
I’m sure Egyptian pharaohs would have grasped in a jiffy
Then every single pyramid would bear this hieroglyph-y
Oh, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Say it and wild animals will not seem so ferocious.
CUSTOMERS
GRRR!
POPPINS
Add some further flourishes---It’s so Rococococious.
CORRY
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
POPPINS
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
ALL B’s
Ah-ah-ah-ah
POPPINS/JANE/MICHAEL/CORRY
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
CORRY/ALL B’s/JANE/MICHAEL/CUSTOMERS Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle
ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
ALL B’s:
The druids could have carved it
Mary Poppins 26
On their mighty monoliths
The ancient greeks I’m certain would have
Used it in their myths.
POPPINS
I’m sure the roman empire only entered the abyss
Because those latin scholars never had a word like this.
ALL Bs/CORRY/POPPINS/JANE/MICHAEL
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
CUSTOMERS
Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum
POPPINS
If you say it softly the effect can be hypnotious.
ALL Bs
Check your breath before you speak in case it’s halitotious.
MICHAEL/JANE/CUSTOMERS
Yuck!
ALL
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
Um diddle iddle iddle um diddle ay
POPPINS: You know you can say it backwards, which is suoicodilaipxecitsiligarfilacrepus
MICHAEL: She may be tricky, but she’s bloody good! (all gasp at Michael’s cheekiness!)
CORRY:
So when the cat has got your tongue
There’s no need for dismay
Just summon up this word
And then you’ve got alot to say.
ALL B’s
Pick out those eighteen consonants
Add 16 vowels as well
And put them in an order that is very hard to spell
POPPINS
S U P E R, C A L I F, R A G I L, I S T I C E X P I A L I D
MICHAEL JANE
OCIOUS
All B’s
Smarty Pants!
(all join in charades)
ALL
S U P E R, C A L I F, R A G I L, I S T I C E X P I A L I D
OCIOUS
S U P E R (S U P E R), C A L I F (C A L I F), R A G I L ( R A G I L),
ISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS
(increasing in tempo) S U P E R (S U P E R), C A L I F (C A L I F), R A G I L ( R A G I L),
ISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS
BERT
Here we go!
ALL
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Even though the sound of it is something quite
atrocious
If you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound
precocious.
Supercalifragilistic.
MICHAEL/JANE
Supercalifragilistic.
ALL
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
MUSIC #11A-Supercalifragi Reprise/ “The Wind May Blow”
(Exit Poppins)
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
S U P E R (S U P E R), C A L I F (C A L I F), R A G I L ( R A G I L),
I S T I C E X P I A L I D, O C I O U S
BERTOLt/BERTHA: Here we go!
ALL:
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Even though the sound of it is something quite
atrocious
If you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound
precocious.
CORRY:
Mary Poppins 27
Supercalifragilistic.
Supercalifragilistic.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
ALL Bs
ALL
***********end of ACT I**********
Scene 9: On the way to the Bank/ “Feed the Birds”
MUSIC #14 - Cherry Tree Lane (Reprise, a portion of it)..................Orchestra
POPPINS: And now to the bank to see you father and learn about investments. We’re a little
behind our time. Spit spot.
JANE:
This will be our first outing with father.
MICHAEL: I brought some money to buy kite string and a kite.
JANE:
Michael, Father won’t fly a kite, he’s too busy.
MICHAEL:
Oh look, there’s a witch.
MUSIC #10 - Feed the Birds…………..(Bird Woman, Poppins, Ensemble)
(points to BIRD WOMAN who is seated on steps feeding birds. The birds are 2 dancers in black
with bird streamers. They appear and flock nearby and eventually come for bird seed)
BIRD WOMAN
POPPINS:
Feed the Birds, Tuppence a Bag,
Tuppence, Tuppence, Tuppence a Bag.
It’s rude to point, Michael. She’s hardly a witch.
MICHAEL: Well, she’s certainly scary.
JANE:
POPPINS:
She’s just a bundle of rags.
Ah, is that so? I think she’s far more than that.
Early each day to the steps of St. Paul's
The little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people she calls
BIRD WOMAN
Come buy my bags full of crumbs
Come feed the little birds show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do
Their young ones are hungry
Their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you
Feed the birds tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence tuppence a bag
Mary Poppins 28
POPPINS
Feed the birds that's what she cries
While overhead her birds fill the skies
ENSEMBLE (offstage) Ah…
(reaches in his pocket and moves toward Bird Woman)
JANE:
What are you doing, Michael?
MICHAEL:
JANE:
I want to feed the birds.
Can’t you see, she’s a beggar? ( Jane grabs him back)
MICHAEL: No, she’s not. She’s a caretaker….for birds.
JANE:
POPPINS:
Father would say it’s a waste of money.
That’s a matter of opinion.
All around the cathedral
The saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see it
You know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares
Though her words are simple and few
Listen, listen she's calling to you
BIRD WOMAN
Feed the birds tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence
BIRD WOMAN/POPPINS
BIRD WOMAN
tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence tuppence a bag
(Michael is just about to hand the BIRD WOMAN a tuppence for a bag of seeds.)
SCENE 10: A Run on the Bank
GEORGE:
Jane:
Children, where’ve you been. You’re late.
FATHER!!! We had the most wonderful morning with Mary Poppins.
GEORGE:
Yes, yes. Not so loud. Mary Poppins. Please return for them in half an hour. This
is most inconvenient.
JANE & MICHAEL: Half an hour?! I thought we were going on an outing together, Father?
POPPINS:
Sometimes things happen for a reason, children. (exits)
GEORGE:
If that isn’t a vacuous statement.
Mary Poppins 29
JANE:
Speaking of statements. Father did you know there’s a TALKING SHOP in the
Park? We could go back there today, if you like. And we learned a new word.
MICHAEL: And a joke, a really good joke. It goes like this. “I know a man with a wooden leg
named Smith.”
GEORGE: Smith? We don't know anyone called Smith.
MICHAEL: Then the second conversationalist says, "What's the name of his other leg?"
(Michael laughs)
GEORGE:
A leg named Smith? Come along.
MICHAEL: May I feed the birds, Father? It only costs a tuppence.
GEORGE:
Waste your money on a lot of ragamuffin birds? Certainly not.
MICHAEL: But Mary Poppins-GEORGE:
I am not interested in what Mary Poppins says. Nor do I wish to keep hearing her
name for the remainder of the day. Now come along!
Michael:
But it's my tuppence!
GEORGE: Michael, I will not permit you to throw your money away! When we go inside the
bank, I shall show you what may be done with your tuppence. And I think you'll find it extremely
interesting.
MICHAEL: hmmph. I don’t know what to say
JANE:
Just say, supercalifragilisticexpealidocious
GEORGE:
What?! Good gracious! super cali fragi what-sis?!
JANE & MICHAEL: (really loudly) supercalifragilisticexpealidocious
JANE:
Mary Poppins taught us. Isn’t it the most wonderful word?
GEORGE:
JANE:
I told you, I don’t want to hear her name
It’s what you say when you don’t know what to say.
GEORGE:
When you don’t know what to say, you remain silent. Which is what I expect of you
children when we enter the bank. And that’s the final straw! Mary Poppins gets the sack this
afternoon.
JANE:
Oh Father, please don’t make her go.
MICHAEL:
That’s not fair.
GEORGE:
Now fix yourselves up. And bring out your best manners, I know you have them
somewhere. Too much silliness is unhealthy for young minds. Super cali fragi--whatever. Utter
nonsense.
MUSIC #9 - Precision & Order (Clerks, George, Chairman)
(they enter the bank; a hive of industry with neither heart nor soul.)
CLERKS:
PRECISION & ORDER
Mary Poppins 30
COGS IN A WHEEL
OPENING a LEDGER
CLOSING A DEAL
PRUDENT INVESTMENT,
FINANCIAL SENSE
OUR PERFECT RAY OF SUNSHINE
POUNDS, SHILLINGS AND PENCE.
DAWES bank officer:
GEORGE:
Hello, Banks. What's all this about?
These are my children, Mrs. Dawes.
DAWES:
Well, so I assumed. But why are they here?
GEORGE:
They wish to open an account, sir.
DAWES:
Oh, indeed? And just how much money do you have, young man?
Michael:
Tuppence. But I want it to feed the birds.
GEORGE:
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
CHAIRMAN: Tuppence? Tuppence? Precisely how I started.
GEORGE: That's the chairman of the bank, the elder Mr. Dawes. A giant in the world of
finance.
Michael:
A giant? He looks pretty short to me.
GEORGE:
Shh, shh, shh. Listen to him
CHAIRMAN: GREAT MEN HAVE DREAMS OF POWER AND POSITION
AND IT’S OUR JOB TO BACK THEM TO THE HILT
FOR SHREWD INVESTMENT AND ADVICE
THEY’LL PAY OUR PRICE
CHAIRMAN/CLERKS
THE BEDROCK ON WHICH BANKS ARE BUILT
CLERKS
IN EVERY TRANSACTION CREDIT OR DEBT,
SHEETS ARE ALL WELL BALANCED,
TARGETS ARE MET…
MET...MET...MET….MET...MET. ...MET….MET
DAWES:
Uh, Father, these are Banks's children. They want to open an account.
CHAIRMAN: Oh, they do, do they, boy? Excellent. Excellent. So you want to be a banker, young
man?
Mary Poppins 31
A MAN HAS DREAMS OF BUILDING AN EMPIRE
TO MAKE HIS NAME IN MANY DISTANT LANDS
AND IN THE NEW WORLD, I AM TOLD
WE’LL SOON STRIKE GOLD
LET’S SEIZE THAT CHANCE WITH BOTH OUR HANDS
CLERKS/DAWES
ASSESSING THE MARKET,
LIMIT THE RISK
LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR
BUSINESS IS BRISK...
BRISK...BRISK...BRISK...BRISK...BRISK...BRISK...BRISK...
CHAIRMAN We can alway use more money to, to put to work for the bank, can't we, boy? So,
you have tuppence? May I be permitted to see it?
Michael
No. I want it to feed the birds!
CHAIRMAN Fiddlesticks, boy! Feed the birds and what have you got? Fat birds! You must put
your money to good use.
DAWES:
You can purchase first and second trust deeds.
CLERKS: (each saying a line) Bonds, chattels, dividends, shares.
Think of the foreclosures!
Bankruptcies. Debtor sales.
Opportunities.
All manner of private enterprise.
Shipyards. The mercantile. Collieries. Tanneries. Corporations.
Amalgamations.
DAWES/CHAIRMAN/CLERKS/GEORGE: While stand the banks of England, England stands.
When fall the banks of England, England falls!
CHAIRMAN (grabs tuppence from Michael) Welcome to our joyful family of investors.
Michael
GEORGE:
Give it back! Gimme back my money!
Michael, behave.
Michael: Give it to me! The bank can’t keep my money if I want it! Give me back my money!
(a major tussle starts between Michael, chairman, dawes, jane, george, and clerks. It stirs up
the bank and customers get very nervous)
Customer # 1: There's something wrong. The bank won't give someone their money!
Mary Poppins 32
Customer # 2
my account!
Well, I'm going to get mine! Come along, young man! I want every penny from
Customer # 3: And mine, too!
Customer #4: And give me mine, too!
DAWES::
Stop all payments. Stop all payments. Close the doors. This will start a panic if
we’re not careful. We can’t have a run on the bank!! (a panic surges. Everyone is afraid the bank
system will collapse. People start running in demanding their money)
GEORGE:
Michael! Jane!
Michael:
Give me my money
GEORGE:
Children, come back here.
CHAIRMAN:
Stop those children. Close the vaults!!
(the children are barely able to squeeze through all the customers and escape. Lights dim)
GEORGE:
Jane! Michael!
MUSIC #11A - “Supercalifragi” reprise/winds may blow (only do winds may
blow)......
……...(Bert, Bertolt, Bertha)
Scene 11: The Children Run Away/ “Chim-Chiminy”
ALL B’s:
THE WINDS MAY BLOW,
BERT:
BUT WHO’S TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT IT’S BRINGING
BERTOLT
GOOD NEWS OR BAD
BERTHA:
HAPPY OR SAD
ALL B’S
THE PENDULUM KEEPS SWINGING
Jane:
Bert, Bertolt, Bertha, Thank goodness, it's you all!
Bert:
In the flesh,
BERTOLT
JANE:
and at your service.
We’re completely lost.
Michael:
Bert:
You're filthy!
Oh, perhaps a smudge or two.
BERTOLT:
Jane:
It so happens that today we are chimney sweeps.
Oh, we're so frightened.
BERTHA:
Now, now, don't carry on so, Jane.
Mary Poppins 33
BERT:
We’ll take care of you.
BERTOLT: Who's after you?
Jane:
Father is.
ALL B’s:
What?
Michael: We went to see his bank.
JANE:
I don't know what we caused, but it must've been something dreadful.
Michael:
Everyone was running around and yelling. We had to escape. He sent the police
after us, and the army and everything.
Jane
Michael, don't exaggerate.
Bertha:
Well, now, there must be some mistake.
BERT:
Your dad's a fine gentleman.
BERTOLT: and he loves ya!
Jane
I don't think so. You should've seen the look on his face.
Michael:
He doesn't like us at all.
Bertha:
You know, begging your pardon, but the one my heart goes out to is your father.
There he is in that cold, heartless bank day after day,
BERT:
hemmed in by mounds of cold, heartless money.
BERTOLT: We don't like to see any living thing caged up.
Jane:
Father in a cage?
BERTHA:
They makes cages in all sizes and shapes, you know.
BERT:
Bank-shaped some of 'em, carpets and all.
Jane:
Father's not the one in trouble. We are.
Bertolt:
after you.
Oh, sure about that, are you? Look at it this way. You've got your mother to look
BERTHA
And Mary Poppins (the children look at each other wondering)
BERT
and the Constable
BERTOLT
and US.
MUSIC #13 - CHIM CHIM CHER-EE (ALL B’s, Jane, Michael)
ALL B’s:
Who looks after your father?
BERTOLT: When something terrible happens, what does he do? Fends for himself, he does. He
just pushes on at his job, uncomplaining and alone and silent.
Michael:
He's not very silent!
Mary Poppins 34
Jane:
Michael, be quiet. Bert, do you think Father really needs our help?
Bert:
Well, not our place to say.
BERTOLT: But I do say, a father can always do with a bit of help.
BERTHA:
BERT:
ALL B’s
Come ‘on, tikes. Let’s go take a look at something lovely to behold.
And then we’ll take you home. (they climb to the rooftops)
UP WHERE THE SMOKE IS ALL BILLOWED AND CURLED,
‘TWEEN PAVEMENT AND STARS IS THE CHIMNEY SWEEP’S WORLD
BERT:
WHERE THERE’S ‘ARDLY NO DAY
BERTOLT
NOR ‘ARDLY NO NIGHT
BERTHA
THERE’S THINGS ‘ALF IN SHADOW
BERT:
AND ‘ALFWAYS IN LIGHT
ALL BS
ON THE ROOFTOPS OF LONDON...
(the children are on the rooftops and are amazed at the sights. Stars come out, rooftops light
up)
BERTOLT
The best view in the world, eh? And who gets to see it?
BERTHA
None of them bankers.
BERT:
Not your poor father.
BERTOLT: Only the birds, the stars,
ALL Bs:
and the chimney sweeps.
BERT:
Now as the ladder of life has been strung
You might think a sweep's on the bottommost rung
BERTOLT:
Though I spends me time in the ashes and smoke
In this whole wide world there's no happier bloke
ALL B’s:
Chim chiminy, chim chiminy chim chim cheree
BERTHA:
A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be
ALL Bs
Chim chiminy, chim chiminy chim chim cheroo
Good luck will rub off when we shakes hands with you
BERTHA:
Or blow us a kiss
BERTOLT & BERT:
And that’s lucky too
JANE:
Maybe you should shake hands with father. He could use some luck.
BERT:
He could use this view. You can’t see your troubles from here.
Mary Poppins 35
MICHAEL: Do you think that Father will sack Mary Poppins?
JANE:
I hope not. Do you think the bank will sack Father?
MICHAEL:
JANE:
What do you mean, Jane?
Oh nothing Michael. Just enjoy the view.
ALL Bs
Chim chiminy, chim chiminy chim chim cheree
JANE/MICHAEL:
When you’re with a sweep, you’re in glad company
ALL Bs:
Chim, Chim, Chim-chim, Cheree
When you’re with a sweep, you’re in good company
Nowhere is there a more happier crew
Than them what sings chim chim cheree, chim cheroo
Chim Chiminy, Chim Chim Cheree, Chim--
(all of a sudden, Poppins pops through a chimney and lands on the rooftop, The children are
utterly dumfounded)
Scene 12: The Chimney Sweeps/ “Step in Time”
MUSIC #19 - Step in Time (starts as underscoring about halfway).................
JANE/MICHAEL: Mary Poppins!!! How did you do that?!
POPPINS:
I thought I’d find you here. Cheerio, Bert, Bertha, Bertolt. Thanks for keeping
your eye on the children. Jane, Michael, we’d best be going.
BERT:
Not yet Mary.
BERTOLT: They still needs a bit of cheerin’ up.
POPPINS:
JANE:
POPPINS:
I suspect they do. They’ve caused quite a ruckus today.
How do you know that, Mary Poppins?
I know everything, Remember, I’m practically perfect.
MICHAEL: Well you can’t make this perfect. Nothing can help us now, not even a spoonful of
sugar.
BERT:
There’s plenty of folk ready to help you should you need ‘em. See what I mean
(Chimney Sweeps appear from everywhere. )
SWEEP GROUP 1:
BRUSH AWAY THE DIRT AND SOOT
SWEEP GROUP 2:
BRUSH AWAY YOUR TEARS
SWEEP GROUP 3;
COBWEBS THAT AREN’T SWEPT AWAY
SWEEP GROUP 4;
HANG AROUND FOR YEARS
Mary Poppins 36
SWEEPS:
IN ALL WEATHERS, UP ALL HOURS
WE CAN SEE FOR MILES
OUR IDEA OF HEAVEN IS
A NIGHT OUT ON THE TILES
WE MAY LOOK A MOTLEY CREW
(WE MAY LOOK A MOTLEY CREW)
SMUDGED WITH TAR AND GRIME
(SMUDGED WITH TAR AND GRIME)
BUT WHEN YOU NEED A HELPING HAND
(BUT WHEN YOU NEED A HELPING HAND)
WE TRY TO STEP IN (TRY TO STEP IN)
TRY TO STEP IN
JUST IN TIME
ALL BS
WE WILL STEP IN
SWEEPS
STEP IN TIME
ALL B’S
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
WE WILL STEP IN
BERTS, SWEEPS
STEP IN TIME
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYmE.
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
WATCH YOUR STEP, BUT STEP IN TIME
WATCH YOUR STEP, BUT STEP IN TIME
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
KICK YOUR KNEES UP, STEP IN TIME
KICK YOUR KNEES UP, STEP IN TIME
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
Mary Poppins 37
KICK YOUR KNEES UP, STEP IN TIME
POPPINS
CHILDHOOD IS A STEP IN TIME
PARENTHOOD’S THE SAME
POPPINS/ALL B’S
SWEEPS
NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT.
Whew!
BERT:
DON’T IT SEEM A PERFECT CRIME.
DON’T IT SEEM A SHAME.
POPPINS/ALL B’S
WHEN THE STEPS AREN’T GOING
AS SMOOTHLY AS THEY MIGHT?
INTERLUDE
SWEEPS
THAT’S WHEN WE STEP IN, STEP IN TIME.
THAT’S WHEN WE STEP, STEP...IN TIME.
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
THAT’S WHEN WE STEP IN, STEP IN TIME
(Dance sequence. )
ALL B’s
ALL
Here we go!
SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN
LINK YOUR ELBOWS, STEP IN TIME.
LINK YOUR ELBOWS, STEP IN TIME.
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME
LINK YOUR ELBOWS, STEP IN TIME.
LINK YOUR ELBOWS, STEP IN TIME.
STEP IN TIME, STEP-STEP IN TIME.
(Sweeps, All B’s, Poppins perform an extended dance section. The Berts orchestrates the action
with ‘your turn’ ‘and you’ etc , Stomp section)
POPPINS
JUST REMEMBER WHEN YOU’RE LOW
FEELING IN THE WARS
SWEEPS
SOMEONE’S UP YOUR CHIMNEY
POPPINS
AND IT ISN’T SANTA CLAUS
SWEEP
IF YOU NEED US, IF YOU DON’T (IF YOU NEED US, IF YOU DON’T)
DOESN’T MAKE MUCH ODDS (DOESN’T MAKE MUCH ODDS)
Mary Poppins 38
WE’LL BE WATCHING OVER YOU (WE’LL BE WATCHING OVER YOU)
BRUSHES, BROOMS AND, (BRUSHES, BROOMS AND, )
BRUSHES, BRUSHES, BROOM…
ALL B’S
AND RODS!
[not sure about this section of the song]
OVER THE ROOFTOPS,
OVER THE ROOFTOPS,
OVER THE ROOFTOPS,
OVER THE ROOFTOPS,
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
OVER THE ROOFTOPS, STEP IN TIME
LINK YOUR ELBOWS, STEP IN TIME
variation of the same
KICK YOUR KNEES UP, STEP IN TIME
variation of the same
OH, STEP IN TIME (STEP IN TIME)
STEP STEP STEP
STEP IN TIME (STEP IN TIME)
STEP STEP STEP
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME.
IF YOU KICK YOUR KNEES UP
KICK YOUR KNEES UP
KICK YOUR KNEES UP
STEP STEP,
STEP STEP STEP STEP,
STEP STEP STEP STEP,
Mary Poppins 39
STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP,
#19A Music…….all sweeps
(House appears)
ALL B’S
What ya gonna do?
SWEEPS
Step in time!
ALL Bs
SWEEPS
Shout it Louder
Step in time.
SWEEPS
STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP.
STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP.
ALL B’S
Down the chimney!
SWEEPS
DOWN THE CHIMNEY, STEP IN TIME
DOWN THE CHIMNEY, STEP IN TIME
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME
BACK TO THE NURS’RY, STEP IN TIME
(The Sweeps come down the chimney, pass through the nursery (?), gathering up MRS BRILL,
ELLEN, & WINIFRED.
[SCOTT; Can we add this: VOTES FOR WOMEN, STEP IN TIME]
(A very dejected GEORGE is about to enter the front door. A MESSENGER runs up to GEORGE)
MESSENGER: Special Delivery for George Banks, Esquire.
GEORGE:
Oh, thank you, that’s me. (looking at envelope) SPECIAL Delivery? Oh dear.
SWEEPS (as they exit house and go past GEORGE, he is speechless and dazed at the sight of
them.):
SPECIAL DELIV’RY, STEP IN TIME
SPECIAL DELIV’RY, STEP IN TIME
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME
SPECIAL DELIV’RY, STEP IN TIME
BERT:
Off we go. Goodnight Guv’nor.
ALL B’s/SWEEPS:
GOODNIGHT, GUV’NOR, STEP IN TIME.
GOODNIGHT, GUV’NOR, STEP IN TIME.
NEVER NEED A REASON, NEVER NEED A RHYME
GOODNIGHT, GUV’NOR, STEP IN TIME.
Mary Poppins 40
(The Sweeps sweep past GEORGE carrying the MESSENGER with them. They each greet
GEORGE as the the last of them pass)
SWEEPS:
Good night Guv’nor. Cheerio, Guv’nor, G’night Guv’nor.
MICHAEL ((disguised as a Sweep):
Cheerio, Guv’nor.
GEORGE: (recognizing him)
Not so fast. Upstairs...now! Both of you. Jane, you
too! Winifred, I’m surprised at you. Mary Poppins, would you be good enough to explain?
POPPINS:
First of all, I would like to make one thing clear.
GEORGE:
Yes,
POPPINS:
I never explain anything. Come along, children. Let’s leave your parents to
contemplate the Special Delivery.
ELLEN:
Mrs. Brill, I think this will rock the house more than the Admiral’s time-cannon.
MRS BRILL: Tsk, tsk, tsk. The whole world has gone upside-down.
SCENE 13: The Special Delivery Letter
MUSIC #20 A Man has Dreams/ Spoonful of Sugar reprise
(George sits down to open and read the letter. Winifred doesn’t understand what has gone on)
WINIFRED: George, what happened earlier this afternoon? Everything seems topsy-turvy.
GEORGE:
Don’t ask Winifred. It’s far too complicated to go into right now.
WINIFRED: Dear, I thought the children were with you. That’s why I went to the ladies’
meeting this afternoon.
GEORGE:(finishing reading the letter and sighing deeply) I was afraid of this. The Chairman
wants to see me tonight at 9:00.
WINIFRED: So late? I don’t understand. Should I come with you?
GEORGE:
hand)
No Winifred. I must face this alone. (Winifred sits next to George and holds his
GEORGE:
A MAN HAS DREAMS OF WALKING WITH GIANTS
TO CARVE HIS NICHE IN THE EDIFICE OF TIME
BEFORE THE MORTAR OF HIS ZEAL
HAD THE CHANCE TO CONGEAL
The cup is dashed from his lips...The flame is snuffed aborning...He’s brought to rack and
ruin in his prime.
WINIFRED: Oh my goodness dear. So many mixed metaphors. I can’t follow you.
GEORGE:
You know what I think. It’s Mary Poppins. From the moment she stepped into this
house, things began to happen to me!
MY WORLD WAS CALM, WELL ORDERED, EXEMPLARY
Mary Poppins 41
THEN CAME THIS PERSON WITH CHAOS IN HER WAKE,
AND NOW MY LIFE’S AMBITIONS GO WITH ONE FELL BLOW
IT’S QUITE A BITTER PILL TO TAKE.
WINIFRED: George, you must take heart. What is it that Mary Poppins always says?
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR, THAT IS ALL IT TAKES
IT CHANGES BREAD AND WATER INTO TEA AND CAKES
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR GOES A LONG, LONG WAY
SO HAVE YOURSELF A HEALTHY HELPING EVERY DAY
GEORGE:
meeting.
A healthy helping of trouble, if you ask me. Winifred. I’m dreading this bank
Winifred:
Dear, maybe there are things more important than work.
WINIFRED:
DEAR, WHILE YOU GRIND, GRIND, GRIND AT THE GRINDSTONE
THEIR CHILDHOOD SLIPS LIKE SAND THROUGH A SIEVE
AND ALL TOO SOON, THEY’VE UP AND GROWN.
AND THEN, THEY’VE FLOWN, AND IT’S TOO LATE FOR YOU TO GIVE
(THe CHILDREN come out into the room. POPPINS watches from the sidelines. )
JUST THAT SPOONFUL OF SUGAR TO HELP THE MEDICINE GO DOWN
THE MEDICINE GO DOWN, MEDICINE GO DOWN.
JANE:
GEORGE:
JANE:
Father…
What is it, Jane?
We're sorry about the tuppence. We didn't know it would cause you so much trouble.
MICHAEL: It was all my fault, Father. Here’s the tuppence. Could you open an account for me?
I don’t need to feed the birds or fly a kite.
JANE:
Or father, if it’s more serious, you can keep it for yourself.
WINIFRED: Now Jane. I don’t think it’s that serious. Is it, George?
MICHAEL: Will a tuppence make everything better?
GEORGE:
I doubt it. But thank you, children, for trying.
(Lights out. Scene changes to the Bank as The clock strikes nine)
Scene 14: George’s Meeting at the Bank
CHAIRMAN: Come in! Take your hat off, Banks.
GEORGE:
Good evening, gentlemen, ladies.
Mary Poppins 42
CHAIRMAN:
Well, get on with it. Go on.
Dawes: Uh, yes, Father. In 1773, an official of this bank, unwisely loaned a large sum of money,
to finance a shipment of tea to the American colonies. Do you know what happened?
GEORGE: Yes, sir. Yes, I think I do. Uh, uh, as the ship lay in Boston harbor, uh, a party of the
colonists, boarded the vessel, behaved very rudely, and, and threw all the tea overboard. This
made the tea unsuitable for drinking, even for Americans.
Dawes:
Precisely. The loan was defaulted. Panic ensued within these walls. There was a run
on the bank!
CHAIRMAN: From that time to this, sir, there has not been a run on this bank until today! A
run, sir, caused by the disgraceful conduct of your son. Do you deny it?
GEORGE:
son.
I do not deny it, sir. And I shall be only too glad to assume responsibility for my
Clerk 1:
It was a despicable breach of conduct
Clerk 2:
You put the bank in peril
Clerk 3:
You put England in peril
Clerk 4:
This could have had global ramifications
Clerk 5:
World economies could have tumbled
CHAIRMAN:
Yes, yes, yes. What are you waiting for? Get on with it!
Dawes:
Uh, y-yes, Father. (he punches a hole in George’s Hat, then tears up the carnation in
George’s buttonhole)
Clerk 1,2,3: No, not that!
Clerk 4,5: Steady on.
CHAIRMAN: Well, do you have anything to say, Banks?
GEORGE:
Well, sir, they do say that when there's nothing to say, all you can say I-
CHAIRMAN: Confound it, Banks! I said, do you have anything to say?
GEORGE:
Just one word, sir.
CHAIRMAN: Yes?
GEORGE: Supercalifragilistic- expialidocious.
CHAIRMAN, CLERKs, DAWES: What?
GEORGE:
Supercalifragilistic- expialidocious. Mary Poppins was right. It's extraordinary. It
does make you feel better!
CHAIRMAN: What are you talking about, man? There's no such word.
GEORGE:
Oh, yes. It is a word. A perfectly good word, actually. Do you know what there's no
such thing as? It turns out, with due respect, when all is said and done, that there's no such thing
as you!
Mary Poppins 43
(all gasp in shock, and murmur, “don’t listen to him” “Mr.Chairman, don’t excite yourself” “Mr.
Chairman, don’t get your cholesterol in an uproar over this.” etc)
CHAIRMAN: (to clerks) Hush. I’m perfectly fine. (threateningly to George) Impertinence, sir!
GEORGE:
snapper!
Speaking of impertinence, would you like to hear a perfectly marvelous joke? A real
CHAIRMAN:
Joke? Snapper?
GEORGE:
Yes. There are these two wonderful young people, Jane and Michael. And they
meet one day on the street, and Jane says to Michael, "I know a man with a wooden leg named
Smith." and Michael says, "Really? What's the name of his other leg?"
CHAIRMAN: The man's gone mad. Call the guard!
GEORGE:
Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious. I'm feeling better all the time! (attempts to give
Chairman tuppence)
DAWES:
Banks, don't you dare strike my father!
GEORGE:
There's the tuppence. The wonderful, fateful, Supercalifragilistic- expialidocious
tuppence. Guard it well. Good-bye!
CHAIRMAN: How dare you. Banks, where are you going?
GEORGE:
I don't know. I might dance with statues or run around on the rooftops of London.
Or I might just fly a kite! (he’s laughing uproariously as he exits.)
Dawes:
Mad as a march hare.
CHAIRMAN: A wooden leg named Smith. A wooden leg named Smith. A wooden le--(starts to
laugh uncontrollably. As lights fade)
DAWES:
Father? Father! Father, are you all right!
Scene 14: Mary Poppins Leaves & George Banks Returns/
“Let’s Go Fly a Kite”
Admiral:
Wind's come around and changed, blowing dead on from the west!
Ellen
We don’t give a fig about which way the wind is blowing, Admiral. Just use your
binoculars and be on the lookout for him.
ADMIRAL: Listen here, I don’t take orders, I give them.
MRS BRILL: Your Admiral, sir-ness, please excuse Ellen for her abruptitudeness. (to Ellen)
Ellen, if you want the old geiser’s help, try using honey. It works better than your vinegar.
ELLEN
It don’t matter. The master’s probably jumped in the river by now, and they’ll have to
drag it for his body.
BINNACLE: That’s a nasty end. What did he do?
Mary Poppins 44
ELLEN:
He never came home last night. The missus is distraught. The children won’t come
out of the nursery. And Mary Poppins is packing her bags. We sent the constable out this
morning to check the bank. The only thing we discovered was,
ELLEN & MRS BRILL (whispering)
he'd been discharged last night.
ADMIRAL Dreadful end. He seemed to have been a fine, stable gentleman
BINNACLE:
No hanky-panky, if you know what I mean.
ADMIRAL: Very regular habits.
ELLEN & MRS BRILL: Poor Mr. Banks.
(Meanwhile, inside No.17 Cherry Lane, Mrs. Banks is in silent conversation with the
Constable. Michael and Jane are watching Poppins pack)
Michael:
Jane:
She doesn't care what happens to us.
She only promised to stay 'til the wind changed. Isn't that right, Mary Poppins?
Poppins:
And the wind has changed, children. You won’t need me anymore.
MICHAEL: Won’t need you?!? Mum is crying in her handkerchief. Father’s gone missing. The
cook and Ellen are running in and out of the house in a panic. The Police are in the living
room. Scotland Yard has been called in….And it’s all because of me. (starts to cry).
POPPINS:
Jane:
Now, Michael, you’re exaggerating again. Jane, comfort your brother.
Mary Poppins, don't you love us?
Poppins:
to?
And what would happen to me, may I ask, if I loved all the children I said good-bye
(Michael storms out of nursery. Jane follows him. They go to hug their mother)
WINIFRED: Oh my darlings. Don’t be frightened. I’ll take care of you. And Father will be back,
I’m sure.
MUSIC - #23 SPOONFUL OF SUGAR (REPRISE)..................Poppins
POPPINS (alone)
WITH EVERY JOB WHEN IT’S COMPLETE
THERE IS A SENSE OF BITTER-SWEET,
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU KNOW THE TASK IS DONE.
THOUGH IN YOUR HEART YOU’D LIKE TO STAY
TO HELP THINGS ON THEIR WAY,
YOU’VE ALWAYS KNOWN THEY MUST DO IT ALONE
Goodbye, Children. Goodbye No 17 Cherry Lane.
ADMIRAL: (Looking through binoculars) Land-ho. That’s him. That’s George Banks. Alive
and in the Flesh. Heading straight to No.17. And he’s skipping?! ?! (George is whistling or
singing “Spoonful of Sugar”)
BINNACLE: (grabbing the binoculars) Gone off his rocker. That’s what he done.
Mary Poppins 45
(Ellen & Mrs Brill hug each other. And run to greet George.)
MRS BRILL Oh, Mr Banks we was so worried about you.
ELLEN:
Mr Banks, you didn’t jump in the river. The missus will be relieved.
GEORGE:
Top of the morning, ladies! It’s never been a more beautiful day. A perfect wind,
Admiral, wouldn’t you say.
ADMIRAL: Perfect for what?
GEORGE:
Oh, all kinds of things.
(George spins them around and heads into the house, still whistling and/or singing “Spoonful of
Sugar”)
ELLEN:
He has gone off his crumpet!
WINIFRED: George. (she hugs him) Oh, You’re back. We’ve been so worried. What happened
at the bank?
GEORGE: (hugging the children) I was sacked, discharged, flung into the street.
JANE:
Oh no, Father!
MICHAEL: That’s terrible!
GEORGE:
Not at all Michael. It’s supercaligragilisticexpialidocious (he runs off) And I spent
your tuppence...
WINIFRED: George, George, GEORGE, where are you going?! Why are you in the cellar?
ELLEN: (to Mrs. Brill) I hope he doesn’t jump in the furnace.
MRS. BRILL:
Not so macabre, Ellen. He’s just dotty, that’s all.
GEORGE: from offstage) You'll see in a moment, my dearest dear.
MICHAEL: Did father actually say supercaligragilisticexpialidocious?
WINIFRED: Did he actually call me his dearest dear?! Oh.
MUSIC #16 - Let’s go fly a kite………(full cast)
GEORGE:
Children, don’t come down here. I have a surprise.
MICHAEL: This doesn’t sound like father at all.
WINIFRED: Don’t worry children. We’ll be fine. I can feel it in my bones.
ELLEN:
Fine?! The master lost his job. And the missus, says don’t worry. They’ve ALL gone
daft. The creditors will kick them out on their bums into the street, before we know it.
MRS. BRILL We best start packing our bags.
CONSTABLE Don’t be too hasty. Things may be lookin’ up. At least he showed up. In what
state, I couldn’t say...
(GEORGE re-appears and presents his children with a kite)
Mary Poppins 46
GEORGE: Come’ on Family. You, too. Ellen. Mrs. Brill. Constable. We have an outing to go
on, and it’s long overdue!
Michael:
Jane:
Father, you mended it!
It's wonderful! However did you manage it?
GEORGE:
With tuppence for paper and strings
You can have your own set of wings
With your feet on the ground, You're a bird in flight
With your fist holding tight To the string of your kite
Oh, Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
JANE/MICHAEL/GEORGE
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring
JANE/MICHAEL/GEORGE/WINIFRED
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite
(As they sing, the house and nursery melt away and the family is outside. They send the kite
up. Ellen & Mrs Brill join the family. Soon the stage is filled with people flying kites. including
the Admiral w/Miss Lark, Willoughby, Barricle, and the Constable, and Dawes and the
clerks. One of the kites says, ‘Give Women the Vote’)
long interlude
WINIFRED: Oh George, it’s so wonderful to have you back. I know we can manage. I’ll get a
job.
GEORGE:
My love, first things first! Let’s get this kite airborne!
JANE/MICHAEL: Hurray father! You did it!
GEORGE:
WE did it!
MICHAEL: Father, how do you know how to fly a kite?
GEORGE:
BERT:
Michael, I’ve always known. I had just forgotten how important it was.
Mr. Banks, when you ready to run on the rooftops of London--
BERTOLT & BERTHA:
bert/Bertolt/Bertha
Allow us to give you the grand tour.
When you send it flying up there
All at once you're lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze
Over houses and trees
Mary Poppins 47
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite
ALL:
Oh, Let’s go, fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let’s go fly a kite
And send it soaring,
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear.
Oh, let’s go fly a kite.
Dawes: (also flying a kite with the clerks) Oh, there you are, Banks. I want to congratulate
you. Capital bit of humor. Wooden leg named Smith. Or Jones or whatever it was. Father died
laughing.
Banks:
Oh, I'm so sorry, madam.
Dawes:
Oh, no, nonsense. Nothing to be sorry about. Never seen him happier in his life. He
left an opening for a new partner. Congratulations.
Banks:
Thank you, sir. Thank you very much indeed, sir.
POPPINS; (As she soars into the air!!!) Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Kite Flyers:
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, oh, oh, fly a kite.
==================================================================
Bert:
That's gratitude for you. Didn't even say good-bye.
Poppins:
No, they didn't.
BERTOLt
Look at them. Looks like they think more of their father than they do of you.
Mary Poppins: That's as it should be.
BERTHA:
Don’t it bother you just an eensie beensie bit
Mary Poppins: Practically perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking.
BERT:
Is that so? Well, I'll tell you one thing, Mary Poppins, you don't fool us for a second.
Mary Poppins: Oh, really?
BERTHA : Yes, really. we know exactly how you feel about these children.
Mary Poppins 48
Poppins: That will be quite enough of that, thank you. Spit spot and Off I go. (Poppins open
her umbrella and flies away.
Bert
ALL
Good-bye, Mary Poppins. Don't stay away too long.
Let’s go Fly a kite
Up to the Highest Height
Oh, let’s go fly a kite.