Mary Poppins lands in Darwin

Mary Poppins lands in Darwin

Image: The cast of Superstar Productions’ Mary Poppins in rehearsal (supplied).

 

Geoffrey Williams very briefly interrupted rehearsals for Superstar Productions’ Mary Poppins as the company prepare for their practically perfect and nearly sold-out season of five performances at the Darwin Entertainment Centre this month.

One cannot help but wonder what Helen Lyndon Goff might have made of the astonishingly successful life her adored, supernaturally inclined nanny Mary Poppins would go on to enjoy on musical theatre stages around the world.

Born in Maryborough, Queensland, on 9 August 1899, Ms Goff would emigrate to England at the age of 24 and take the name Pamela Lyndon Travers, before adopting the pen name P. L. Travers in 1933, under which she would write the eight books in her Mary Poppins series. Published between 1934 and 1988 (by which time Travers was 89 years old), the books were, as only Fate would have it, particular favourites of the two daughters of one Mr Walt Disney. We will never know if this remains one of the most perfect examples of ‘pester power’, but after pursuing Travers for the rights to the story of her magical nanny for 20 years, in 1964 Travers eventually acquiesced and sold the persistent and determined Walt Disney the rights to a motion picture adaptation. The incredible journey from page to screen would later be magnificently told in Saving Mr. Banks, starring Emma Thompson as Travers and Tom Hanks as Disney.

Released on 27 August 1964 to critical acclaim and immense commercial success (it was the year’s highest-grossing film in the US and, at the time of its release, Disney's highest-grossing film), Mary Poppins – starring the incomparable Julie Andrews in her feature film debut – would garner a total of thirteen Academy Award nominations (a record for any film released by Walt Disney Studios). It would also become the only one of his films to earn a Best Picture Oscar nomination during his lifetime (it lost to My Fair Lady).

Famously, Travers despised the film – disapproving of the way in which the titular character had her stricter aspects diluted. She was also ambivalent about the music, and hated the use of animation so much that she ruled out any further adaptations of the series.1 When producer Cameron Mackintosh approached her years later about creating the British stage musical version, Travers agreed on condition that only British writers, and no one from Disney’s version, were to be involved. That specifically excluded the Sherman Brothers – Robert and Richard – from writing additional songs for the production. The Sherman Brothers’ original songs and other aspects from the film were, however, eventually allowed to be incorporated into the stage version.2

Our understanding of how the story of Mary Poppins may have been born in Travers’ fertile imagination belongs, chiefly, to the tragic circumstances of her childhood. Told through flashbacks in Saving Mr. Banks, Travers idolised her father, but his chronic alcoholism resulted in his repeated dismissals from his job as a bank manager, and strained her parents’ marriage to the extent that it caused her distressed mother to attempt suicide. During their negotiations for the rights to the stage musical, Cameron Mackintosh, fortuitously, told Travers that he felt that “… the redemption of the children’s father, Mr. Banks [and not his children], was what really lay at the heart of the story.”3

Mackintosh’s stage adaptation had its world premiere at the Bristol Hippodrome on 18 September 2004, before moving to the Prince Edward Theatre on 15 December 2004, making it the only Disney musical to have its world premiere in the UK. On 17 March 2005, Julie Andrews visited the show, appearing onstage during the curtain calls where she recalled her memories of making the film and praised the cast for their new interpretation.4 The production closed on 12 January 2008, after a run of more than three years. The Broadway production opened on 16 November 2006 and closed on 3 March 2013 after 2,619 performances. At Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre, the Australian production opened on 29 July 2010, starring Verity Hunt-Ballard.

Image: The Mary Poppins ensemble in rehearsal (supplied).

After their sell-out season of Evita (2023), Darwin’s musical theatre powerhouse Superstar Productions are bringing their locally produced, magical tale of the world’s favourite nanny to life for a strictly limited season at the Darwin Entertainment Centre. Local audiences will now have the rare opportunity to experience the enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers, and astonishing stagecraft that makes Mary Poppins soar. Featuring timeless classics such as Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Feed the Birds, Let’s Go Fly a Kite and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Darwin audiences can now join the Banks family as they (re)discover the undeniable magic of childhood and a spellbinding world of infinite possibilities where anything can happen … if you let it!

Image (Right): Kamaron Arthur, who plays Bert (supplied).

For Kamaron Arthur, who is playing jack-of-all-trades and long-time friend of Mary Poppins, Bert, it is the wonderful sense of nostalgia that he hopes audiences will savour. “Mary Poppins is a classic”, Kamaron told Stage Whispers. “I want people to feel the music and get lost in the world we are bringing to life on the stage.” While Kamaron is finding “Tapping into the true essence of my character” the most challenging aspect of rehearsals, he is also greatly enjoying “Making theatre magic with the fabulously talented Hannah Clark (Mary Poppins)”. Kamaron’s previous musical theatre experience includes the roles of Adam/Felicia in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Douglas Theatre Arts Group), various roles in Musicals Through the Ages (Darwin Musical Theatre Company), the Spirit of Nature in Timewarp 2059 (Kuranda Amphitheatre), and various fundraisers and guest appearances.

 

Image (letf): Martin Gore, who plays George Banks (supplied).

Martin Gore, as patriarch George Banks, will be celebrating his “16th stage musical (including six with Superstar Productions). That has something to do with me being the oldest cast member!” Martin brings a wealth of musical theatre experience to Superstar’s latest production, including Juan Peron in Evita (2023), Molokov in Chess (2017), Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar (2015), Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore (2009), Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (2008), Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (2005), and Avram in Fiddler on the Roof (2003). “All stage shows have an intense rehearsal period where you develop friendships, and where you also learn things about yourself,” Martin told Stage Whispers. “The camaraderie is what I enjoy most.”

“Developing George’s evolving character from a non-emotional workaholic to rediscovering his family and having a work/family life balance” is one of the challenges for Martin to explore throughout the rehearsal process. “Aspects of this occur at different stages through the show, as George gradually learns there is more to life than work.” And what does Martin hope the audiences will enjoy the most about the performance? “I think audiences are going to be particularly thrilled by the big ensemble numbers. These are spectacular to watch with great music and choreography. They are fun and colourful. The ensemble have worked incredibly hard in perfecting these numbers. Overall, I hope audiences are captivated by the thrill of seeing a full musical production in Darwin, particularly our matinee performances where many of the younger members of the audience will be seeing something like this for the first time.”



Image: Ben Hall (pictured kneeling in the purple shirt and vest, far right) and the ensemble in rehearsal (supplied).

Ben Hall is playing The Bank Chairman, and while Mary Poppins is not his first musical, “… it’s the biggest. My first was a production of Mamma Mia!, and I played Bill.” For Ben, “The camaraderie of everyone involved is really fantastic. We lift and support each other. The dancing has been my biggest challenge”, Ben tells Stage Whispers, “but it is so much fun, and it’s getting me fit to boot!”. Ben hopes that the audiences will most enjoy “Singing in the car on their way back home after show. Every tune is an earworm!”

Image (right): Resy van Beek as Mrs Corry at the Mary Poppins costume call (supplied).

Resy van Beek is a member of the ensemble, and is also playing the role of Mrs Corry, the owner of a magical pop-up ‘Talking Shop’ and the oldest person in the world. Resy has performed in other musical theatre productions with the Darwin Chorale and Superstar Productions, including Voices of Remembrance (2018), Chess (2017), and Evita (2023), and is currently most enjoying “the happiness and energy on stage when singing and dancing with the other Mary Poppins cast members!” While finding “The late nights on ‘school nights’!” the most challenging aspect of rehearsals, Resy hopes that audiences will enjoy “The overall joy, happiness, and energy that we will be bringing to them!”

Mary Poppins will be presented by Superstar Productions, proudly supported by the Darwin Chorale, from Friday 14 February until Saturday 22 February 2025 at The Playhouse, Darwin Entertainment Centre. To book one or more of the very few remaining tickets, visit https://tickets.yourcentre.com.au/Shows/Mary-Poppins

References

1.     Newman, M. (2013). Poppins author a pill no spoonful of sugar could sweeten: tunesmith Richard Sherman recalls studio's battles with Travers to bring Disney classic to life. Variety. Accessed 4 February 2025 at: https://variety.com/2013/music/features/poppins-author-a-pill-no-spoonful-of-sugar-could-sweeten-1200802019

2.     Richard, O. (2013). P L Travers might have liked Mary Poppins onstage. The Toronto Star. Accessed 4 February 2025 at: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/p-l-travers-might-have-liked-mary-poppins-onstage/article_ddab640d-e861-595d-a1c1-536a0302f902.html

3.     Ibid.

4.     Inverne, J. (2005). Julie Andrews makes stage appearance at Mary Poppins. Playbill. Accessed 4 February 2025 at: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/91823.html

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You can read Geoffrey’s article about the history of Darwin’s Superstar Productions and their sell-out 2023 season of Evita here: https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/evita-comes-darwin

You can also enjoy the photo gallery of images from Superstar Productions’ Evita here: https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/evita-sells-out

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