Show Guide

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres created this guide as a tool for educators to encourage their studentsto explore both the story and the production elements of the show. Live theatre can enrich youngpeoples’ lives like few other experiences. This study guide contains information that allows studentsof music, theatre and dance to experience, respond to and critique live performance. CDT's hopeis that youth will gain a greater understanding and appreciation for musical theatre and its role inour lives and greater community.

Basic Theatre Etiquette Reminders…1. Do not talk, whisper, sing or hum during the performance.2. Keep feet on the floor, with your shoes on.

Health and Safety regulations require that everyone wear shoes.

3. Clap after the songs to show the performers that you are enjoying the show.

4. Remain seated until the end of the show, and clap during the curtain call to say "thank you" to the performers and orchestra.

5. Do not use any electronic devices during the performance. TURN OFF all cell phones,i-pods, cameras, etc. before the the show begins.

6. Photos may be taken prior to the show-Photography is not permitted during theperformance.

7. Gratuity (tip) is not included on any items not included in your ticket price. Please beprepared to tip your server on those items. If you have questions, please ask your server.

As a producing theatre company, CDT has facilitiesto create all production elements from scratch. Frominitial concepts of scenic design and costume creationto choreography, music, lighting, sound and props-everything is created at Chanhassen.

After a show is selected, the artistic directorworks closely with the design team in development.Once designers understand the director's vision, theybegin researching and creating.

The scenic designer creates a scenic plot on paperand then makes a scale model of the set, set piecesand backdrops. From these, the technical directorbegins to build the world of the show.

The costume designer sketches costumerenderings and selects fabric swatches for eachcostume. From these drawings, costume artisanshand-make patterns and begin building costumes.

The properties master begins gathering the widerange of props called for in the script. From loavesof bread and shrunken heads to foreign currenciesand hairspray cans, props are created with each itemhand-crafted to look like the real thing according tothe time period.

It takes the scene, costume and prop shops abouttwelve weeks to produce everything needed for theshow. Items need to be made sturdily to handle wearand tear.

Behind the Scenes

From play selection to opening night-Check out the process of getting a CDT show on stage

Actors begin rehearsals just 2½ weeks prior toopening. When they arrive, they have their lines andmuch of the music prepared.

Rehearsals are packed with perfecting music,learning choreography and blocking scenes.

In-between, are costume fittings and pressinterviews. During a rehearsal period, many actorsdo double-duty; they rehearse by day and performthe currently-running production by night.

The currently-running production closes over theweekend, at which time the old set is removed to makeroom for the new one.

Over “Tech Week,” scenery is brought in, dropshung, special effects set, and the floor painted. Lightand sound technicians re-direct over 250 separatelighting instruments in accordance with the designer'splot. Body microphones are re-plotted and all soundcues recorded. Finishing touches are made tocostumes, scenery is put into place and the productionstage manager coordinates the details andcommunication.

Everything comes together for the actors' first stagerehearsal. The director, cast, orchestra and designteam work to make sure that everything is seamless.

Can you believe the company has only three daysto make this happen before opening night? It's nothingshort of amazing that a new musical can be created insuch a short time. Another op'nin’, another show!

The musical director re-works the musical scorefor CDT’s live, professional orchestra and rehearseswith musicians.

The choreographer works closely with thedirector and music director to create actors'movements for dance and musical numbers.

Sound and lighting designers plot technicalcomponents to create effect and mood.

SYNOPSISACT ONE The show opens with Bert, a man of many professions, who introduces Cherry Tree Lane. (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”)Number 17 is where the Banks family lives: George and Winifred Banks, their children, Jane and Michael, theircook Mrs. Brill, their nanny Katie Nanna, and their odd-job man, Robertson Ay.

The children escape from Katie Nanna when she insists they do their lessons, but end up running into the localpoliceman who drags them home. Katie Nanna later declares that she quits because Jane and Michael are out ofcontrol. As it turns out, Katie Nanna is the sixth nanny to leave abruptly in the last four months. While Winifredworries about what she’ll tell her husband, Mrs. Brill and Robertson Ay complain about living in a completemadhouse. (“Cherry Tree Lane”) George suddenly interrupts, saying what they really need is a firm nanny, onewho “should govern” and “should rule.” He suggests Winifred place an ad in The Times “stating that Jane andMichael Banks require the best possible nanny at the lowest possible wage.” Michael and Jane, eavesdropping,decide to write their own advertisement for a nanny. They bring it to George and, as he reads it, he thinks thedescription is ridiculous. (“The Perfect Nanny”) George tears the advertisement up, throws it in the fireplace,and the wind carries it up the chimney. (“Cherry Tree Lane” (Part 2))

Soon after, Mary Poppins appears. She says she’s answering an advertisement for a nanny and she reads thenow mended piece of paper that Jane and Michael wrote. George hastily insists that she take it up Winifred andthen makes his way out of the house. Winifred and Mary talk, coming to terms quickly and Mary takes charge ofthe children. Jane and Michael soon learn of Mary Poppins’ qualities and of her confidence in her qualificationsas a nanny. (“Practically Perfect”)

On their first outing, Mary Poppins and the children meet Bert. Mary invites Bert to walk with them, but Michaeland Jane protest, saying that Bert is very dirty and that their father would never approve, additionally, they don’twant to visit the park. Bert tells them they shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly—the park can be a lively andfun place, especially with Mary Poppins around. (“Jolly Holiday”) Suddenly, Mary has brought the park statues tolife and the whole park changes before the children’s amazed eyes. The cheerful transformation soon ends, andthe children are left wondering if what they just saw really happened. As they head for home, Jane and Michaelask Mary how long she will stay and when she responds, “We’ll see,” they plead for her to never leave.

Upon arriving home at Number 17, the children tell Mr. Banks what a marvelous day they had. After a briefconversation, George tells the children to let him finish his work and they exit while Winifred comes to speak toher husband. Winifred is aware that she is somehow disappointing both her children and her husband, thoughGeorge, on the other hand, can’t understand why she finds the role of wife and mother so difficult. He tells herall she needs to do is “be Mrs. Banks.” (“Cherry Tree Lane” (Reprise) / “Being Mrs. Banks” / “Jolly Holiday”(Reprise))

Winifred decides that the way to be “Mrs. Banks” is to host a tea party. She is anxious, but with Mrs. Brill’sexpertise things are well in hand. Well in hand, until Jane and Michael decide to try to make the icing. A ruckusensues, with the kitchen ending in disarray. Winifred, already on edge, is horrified by what the children havedone, when Mary Poppins suddenly appears. Winifred suggests the children need some very nasty medicine, andMary Poppins agrees. Mary administers the medicine and ushers the children into helping clean up the kitchen,turning the mess into a lesson that with any “job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” (“Spoonful ofSugar”) After the kitchen is cleaned up, it is revealed that none of the invitees to the tea party are coming afterall.

Later, Mary takes the children to visit their father at the bank. (“Precision and Order” / “A Man Has Dreams”)George is busy dealing with possible investment clients: first, an ambitious man named Von Hussler, who has anelaborate money-making scheme, and second, a middle-class man named Northbrook, who has a simple factoryproject. When Mary and the children enter, George is furious, though Northbrook doesn’t mind at all, evengiving Michael and Jane a sixpence apiece. An innocent question from Jane– “What’s more important, agood idea or a good man?” causes George to realize his values have changed over the years; he is nolonger idealistic. He decides to accept Northbrook’s project and rejects Von Hussler’s plan.(“A Man Had Dreams” (Part 2))

Act One Cont.

Mary, Michael and Jane next visit St. Paul’s Cathedral where Mary introduces the Children to The Bird Woman.Michael and Jane initially exclaim that she’s a horrible old woman because she’s just a bundle of rags, but Maryinsists that they need to learn to look past what they see. Jane is still suspicious, but Michael buys a bag of seedfrom the woman and feeds the birds around them. (“Feed the Birds”)

On their way home, Mary takes the children to meet Mrs. Corry, a woman who, according to Bert, is “olderthan anyone in the world.” To the children’s confusion, they go to the park to call at her shop,which magicallyappears. As Mrs. Corry speaks to Jane, Michael, and Mary, she reveals that their father used to sneak into hershop and loved her gingerbread stars. She gives Michael and Jane a bag to give to George. As it turns out, Mrs.Corry’s shop sells magical candy and conversation. Mrs. Corry brings out some letters upon Mary’s request for “anounce of conversation.” The children pick out several letters each, then they make up words.(“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”)

The children return home in high spirits, but unbeknownst to them, things have gone terribly wrong for theirfather. George’s refusal to loan Von Hussler money has cost the bank. Von Hussler borrowed from a rival bank“and now it’s turned into a gold mine.” George reveals to Winifred he has been suspended without salary untilthey decide what to do with him. In his frustration, George shouts at Jane and Michael. In reaction to George’soutburst, Jane gets upset and ends up in an argument with Michael over a toy. Mary warns the two to be carefulof the things they wish for and to control their tempers. (“Playing The Game”) Once the children are asleep,Mary has a conversation with Bert about how she can’t help them learn if they won’t let her “and there’s no oneso hard to teach as the child who knows everything”. (“Chim Chim Cher-ee” (Rooftop Duet)) She departs No. 17Cherry Tree Lane, leaving a short and vague note behind in hopes that her absence will bring the children to theirsenses. When Jane and Michael wake and see the note they are distraught and perplexed. Her note implies thatperhaps they will see her again.

ACT Two Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane is bustling - a new nanny is arriving. In a misguided attempt to please her husband,Mrs. Banks arranges for his childhood nanny, Miss Andrew to take over for the suddenly departed Mary Poppins.The children, who are fully expecting Mary to have returned, are frightened when they find out that Miss Andrewsis their new nanny. Miss Andrew is a brutal and cruel tyrant, rejecting any notion of a ‘spoonful of sugar’ andinstead using her own terrible elixir. (“Brimstone and Treacle”) At the very sight of Miss Andrew, a haunted Mr.Banks flees, exclaiming "the Holy Terror!"

Frightened of their new nanny, Michael and Jane escape to the park and find Bert there. They explain thesituation and Bert tells them they need some good luck. Much to Michael’s delight, Bert extracts a kite from hisbag, and he fulfills Michael’s longtime wish to learn to fly a kite. (“Let’s Go Fly A Kite”) The kite gets caughtand at the end of the string, who should reappear, but Mary Poppins herself! Overjoyed to see her, the childrenquickly tell her of the changes that have taken place at Number 17. Mary Poppins decides that she will returnwith the children and face Miss Andrews at once.

Also hiding in the park is Mr. Banks, who is depressed over his supposed lack of achievements. (“Good ForNothing”) Searching for him is Winifred, nearly at her wits end, who at last understands her children and husband.("Being Mrs. Banks” (Reprise))

When the children return to Number 17, Mary sets Miss Andrew's lark, Caruso, free from his cage. The twonannies have a confrontation with Miss Andrew getting a taste of her own medicine by Mary Poppins hand, andher magical disappearance. ("Brimstone and Treacle” (Part 2)) Winifred and George return, surprised butpleased that Miss Andrew is no longer in charge of the children. Mary makes no promises to stay for any certainamount of time, instead saying that she will stay for as long as necessary. (“Practically Perfect” (Reprise))

On their next adventure, Jane, Michael and Mary are whisked up to the rooftops where Bertintroduces the children to his friends the chimney sweeps. (“Step in Time”) The sweeps dance acrossthe rooftops of London and into the Banks’ house, causing joyful chaos as they dance. Themerriment ends when a telegram arrives.

Act Two Cont. The telegram requests George’s presence at the bank before it closes for the evening. Assuming the worst, hedecides it's time to sell the family heirloom: a beautiful vase that his mother left him. Unintentionally, Mrs. Brilldrops the vase, shattering it. As she is led away for comfort, George goes to clean the broken pile, only to find acollection of hidden gingerbread stars from his childhood. This leads to a brief moment of reflection for George.(“A Man Has Dreams” (Reprise)/ “A Spoonful of Sugar” (Reprise)) George bids the children goodnight and heads offto the bank to receive his fate.

At the children's encouragement, Winifred decides to follow her heart and be at George's side at the bank.(“Anything Can Happen”) Unseen, Mary takes Jane and Michael to follow, where they watch the events unfold.

At the bank, George defends his actions to the Board of Directors, only to learn the shocking truth: far frombankrupting the bank, he has made a fortune! Herr VonHussler’s schemes have fallen apart and the bank’scompetition has been ruined and John Northbrook’s factories have made a healthy profit. When asked what madethem so successful, George admits that Mary Poppins' fantastic word is to be hailed.(“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (Reprise))

Winifred, upon arriving to defend her husband, finds instead that he is the hero of the hour. The bank offershim the job of senior manager with a salary of quadruple what he was making before. George agrees, but underone condition: that from now on, family must come first. George then apologizes to Winifred for underestimatingher all these years. (“Anything Can Happen” (Part 2))

As Mr. and Mrs. Banks happily walk along the London streets, Mary, Jane, Michael, Burt and Mrs. Corry jointhem. Mary realizes that with the family reunited, her task is done. With regret she says goodbye to Bert with akiss, and sets off (“A Spoonful of Sugar” (Farewell Reprise)) Jane and Michael accept that Mary Poppins is leavingthem and they tell her that they'll never forget her. (“Anything Can Happen” (Reprise) /“Supercalifragilisticexpialidous” (Reprise))

Act One� Prologue / Chim Chim Cher-ee - Bert� Cherry Tree Lane (Part 1)- George, Winifred,

Jane, Micael, Mrs. Brill, Robertson Ay� The Perfect Nanny - Jane & Michael

� Cherry Tree Lane ( Part 2) - George, Winifred,Jane, Michael, Mrs. Brill, Robertson Ay

� Practically Perfect - Mary Poppins, Jane, Michael� Jolly Holiday- Bert, Mary Poppins, Jane, Michael,

Ensemble� Cherry Tree Lane (reprise) / Being Mrs. Banks /

Jolly Holiday (reprise) - George, Winifred, Jane,Michael

� A Spoonful of Sugar - Mary Poppins, Jane,Michael, Robertson Ay, Winifred

� Precision and Order / A Man Has Dreams - Clerksand Banker, George, Von Hussler, Northbrook

� Feed the Birds - Bird Woman, Mary Poppins

� Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - MaryPoppins, Mrs. Corry, Bert, Jane, Michael,Ensemble

� Playing the Game- Mary Poppins, Valentine,Jane, Michael, Toys

� Chim Chim Cher-ee (Rooftop Duet)- Bert, MaryPoppins

Act Two Entr’acte: Run Away� Brimstone and Treacle (Part 1) - Miss Andrew,

Michael� Let’s Go Fly a Kite - Bert, Park Keeper, Jane,

Michael� Good for Nothing / Being Mrs. Banks (reprise) -

George, Winifred� Brimstone and Treacle (Part 2) - Mary Poppins,

Miss Andrew, Jane, Michael

� Step in Time - Bert, Mary Poppins, Jane,Michael, Sweeps

� A Man Has Dreams / A Spoonful of Sugar(reprise) - George, Bert

� Anything Can Happen - Mary Poppins, Jane,Michael, Bert, Mrs. Corry, Ensemble

� A Spoonful of Sugar (farewell reprise) - MaryPoppins, George, Winifred, Jane,Michael

� Anything Can Happen/Supercalifragilisticexpialidous - All

Musical Numbers

CharactersBert A one-man-band, sidewalk

artist, chimney sweep & kitesalesman, Bert narrates thestory, introducing the audienceto the family of No. 17 CherryTree Lane. Above all, he is afriend to Mary Poppins, Jane andMichael.

Mr. GeorgeBanks

A bank manager, Mr. Banks isfather to Jane and Michael. Hetries to be a good provider, butoften forgets how to be a goodfather.

Mrs. WinifredBanks

A former actress, Mrs. Banksstruggles to find herself as awoman as well as a wife andmother.

Jane BanksMichael Banks

The Banks children, Jane andMichael are bright andprecocious. They misbehave toget their parents attention.

Katie Nanna The last in a long line of nanniesfor the Banks children. Unableto stand life at No. 17 CherryTree Lane, she leaves Jane andMichael resulting in an openingfor Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins Jane and Michael’s new nanny,Mary Poppins uses magic andcommon sense to show theBanks family how to appreciateeach other again. Full of hopeeven when things look bleak, shetells them, “Anything canhappen if you let it.”

Policeman Local policeman brings Jane andMichael home after many oftheir adventures.

Admiral Boom The Banks’ friendly neighbor onCherry Tree Lane

Miss Lark Another Neighbor on Cherry TreeLane

Mrs. Brill The Banks’ cook, she rules thekitchen at No. 17 Cherry TreeLane

Robertson Ay Clumsy but good-hearted, theBanks’ footman and odd jobman has trouble followingdirections.

The Park Keeper A stickler for rules andregulations, the Park Keeperwatches over the park near theBanks’ home.

Mrs. Corry Mysterious and very old,Mrs. Corry runs the “TalkingShop” where people buyconversations and gingerbread.She knew Mr. Banks when hewas a boy.

Valentine &William

Two of the Banks children’sspecial toys.

The Bird Woman She sits in front of Saint Paul’sCathedral each day, sellingbags of crumbs for feeding tothe pigeons

Herr VonHussler A conniving businessman whocares only for money.

JohnNorthbrook

A factory owner who caresmore for his workers than formaking money.

Miss Andrew When Mary Poppins disappears,Mrs. Banks calls on MissAndrew, George Banks’ oldnanny. She is cruel anddemanding

Bank Chairman Mr. Banks’ boss at the bank

“Anything canhappen if you let it”

From Page to screen to stage Mary Poppins is the central character in a series ofchildren's books written by P. L. Travers and illustratedby Mary Shepard, which were subsequently adapted forfilm and the stage.

Books

The first book, Mary Poppins, published in 1934,introduced the mysterious anti-heroine, a vain, magicalEnglish nanny blown by a windstorm to NumberSeventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, London and into the Banks'household to care for the Banks' children; Jane (theeldest), Michael, and twin babies John and Barbara.Encounters with chimney sweeps, pavement artists,shopkeepers, and various adventures follow until MaryPoppins abruptly leaves. Her sudden return in MaryPoppins Comes Back heralds more of the same, as doesMary Poppins Opens the Door. The other books in thesequence, P.L. Travers explains in her introduction toMary Poppins in the Park, describe incidents whichhappened during any of these three visits, for “Marycould not forever arrive and depart.”

Adaptations

film Mary Poppins was made into a film by Walt DisneyProductions in 1964 based on the series of children'sbooks. According to the 40th anniversary DVD releaseof the film in 2004, Walt Disney first attempted topurchase the film rights to Mary Poppins from P.L.Travers as shortly after it was published, but wasrebuffed because Travers did not believe a film versionof her books would do justice to her creation. He finallysucceeded in 1961, although Travers demanded andreceived script approval rights.

The relationship between Travers and Disney isdetailed in Mary Poppins She Wrote, a biography ofTravers, by Valerie Lawson. The biography is the basisfor two documentaries on Travers, The Real MaryPoppins and The Shadow of Mary Poppins. Theirrelationship and the making of the film are also thesubject of the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks staring TomHanks as Disney and Emma Thompson as Travers.

The process of planning the film and composing thesongs took about two years. Songs in the film werewritten by the Richard M. Sherman & Robert B.Sherman. Mary Poppins was played by Julie Andrews.Disney cast Dick Van Dyke in the key supporting role ofBert.

The film won five Academy Awards, including BestActress for Julie Andrews, and was nominated for eightadditional Oscars.

Musical In December 2004, Mary Poppins: The Musicalopened at the Prince Edward Theatre, London. Itreceived critical acclaim and was nominated for nine2005 Olivier Awards. It won two awards, Best Actressin a Musical, for Laura Michelle Kelly, and Best TheatreChoreography, for Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear.

The musical has the original music and lyrics byRichard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book byJulian Fellowes, and a few new songs and additionalmusic and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

The musical opened on Broadway on October 16,2006 and ran for 2,619 performances.

It received a Drama Desk Award and aTony Award.

A blast of wind, a house rattling bang, andMary Poppins arrives at Number SeventeenCherry-Tree Lane. Quicker than she can closeher umbrella, she takes charge of the Bankschildren-Jane, Michael, and the twins-andchanges their life forever. Unlike othernannies, Mary Poppins makes the mostordinary events extraordinary. She slides UPbanisters, pulls all manner of wonders out ofher empty carpetbag, and banishes fear orsadness with a no-nonsense "Spit-spot." Whoelse can lead the children on one magicaladventure to another and still gently tuckthem in at the end of the day? No one otherthan the beloved nanny Mary Poppins!

-Odyssey Classics

� Mary Poppins, 1934� Mary Poppins Comes Back, 1935� Mary Poppins Opens the Door, 1943� Mary Poppins in the Park, 1952� Mary Poppins From A to Z, 1962� Mary Poppins in the Kitchen, 1975� Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane, 1982� Mary Poppins and the House Next Door, 1988

Composer-Lyricist & Playwright Bios Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman

(original music & lyrics)

The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo thatspecialized in musical films. Robert B. Sherman was bornDecember 19, 1925 and Richard M. Sherman was born June12, 1928.

Sons of Russian Jewish immigrants, Robert and RichardSherman began writing songs together in 1951 on achallenge from their father, Tin Pan Alley songwriter AlSherman. Both brothers took credit for words and music,though Robert was primarily the word man and Richard,who would sit at the piano as they worked, was primarilythe music.

“Their standard line,” Robert’s son Jeffrey Shermansaid, “was ‘I write the words and music and he writes themusic and words.’ ”

After popular Mouseketeer Annette Funicello recordeda cover of one of their songs, "Tall Paul,” they came tothe attention of Walt Disney who eventually hired theSherman Brothers as Staff Songwriters for Walt DisneyStudios.

While at Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote moremotion-picture musical scores than any other songwritersin the history of film. They also wrote what is perhapstheir best-known song, “It's a Small World (After All)” forthe 1964 New York World's Fair. Since then, some haveclaimed that this has become the most translated andperformed song on Earth, although this is largely due tothe fact that it is played continuously at Disney's themepark "It's a Small World" attractions.

The Sherman brothers worked side by side at theDisney studio from the early 1960s into the 1970s,producing songs for several movie musicals, both live-action and animated — The Jungle Book, The Sword in theStone, The Aristocats and of course, Mary Poppins forwhich garnered them two Academy Awards.

In later years, the bothers were entrenched in a siblingrivalry and personality clash that eventually divided themand their families. Although they maintained a publicrelationship, they were fundamentally at odds with one

another. Richard, the younger brother was devoted to songwriting and had a blustery temper, older brother Roberthad survived a difficult war experience and was more ofa brooding poet type.

In “The Boys” — a 2009 documentary about thebrothers, Walt Disney’s nephew Roy, a former topexecutive at the Walt Disney Company, said that thedifference could be seen in two of their songs from MaryPoppins: Robert more “Feed the Birds,” Richard wasmore “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

George Stiles & Anthony Drewe

(new songs and additional music)

The musical theatre songwritingpartnership of George Stiles (music) and Anthony Drewe(lyrics) have been writing together since they met atExeter University over twenty years ago. Stiles was bornAugust 9, 1961 in Sussex, England. Drewe was born March,22, 1961 in Berkshire, England. They were 19 years oldwhen they began their collaborations.

Stiles and Drewe have written five musicals together,starting with their first show, Tutankhamun, which isbased on the discovery of the Boy-King’s tomb. Perhapstheir most widely performed musical is HONK!, a retellingof the Ugly Duckling, which has been produced over 4,000times and won the Olivier Award for Best Musical.

In 2004, they composed the new songs, additionalmusic and lyrics, vocal and dance arrangements for themulti-award winning Mary Poppins.

They have also written two revues and contributedsongs to a variety of theatre, TV, and radio shows,including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s ShakespeareRevue and Dame Edna Everage’s “Look at Me When I’mTalking to You.”

Composer-Lyricist & Playwright Bios Julian Fellowes (book)

Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, as well as Conservative member of the House of Lords.

Fellowes was born August 17, 1949 in Egypt, where hisfather was in the British Embassy. He grew up in Englandand was educated at Ampleforth College, MagdaleneCollege, Cambridge, and at the Webber Douglas Academyof Dramatic Art. After drama school, he was a “jobbingactor for ages” and appeared in more than 40 movies andTV shows.

Feeling in need of a Plan B, Fellowes turned to writingand worked for a while for BBC TV, where he adapted“Little Lord Fauntleroy” and “The Prince and The Pauper”for the small screen.

Subsequently he wrote a screenplay for AnthonyTrollope's The Eustace Diamonds, which caught the eye ofproducer Bob Balaban, who was looking for a British societyinsider to write a screenplay for a murder mystery. “Andso Gosford Park was born, and so was the rest of my life,”Fellowes explained. Gosford Park was directed by RobertAltman and Fellowes won an Oscar for Best OriginalScreenplay in 2002.

In addition to Gosford Park, Fellowes wrote thescreenplay for Mira Nair's Vanity Fair staring ReeseWitherspoon. He also wrote the book for the London andBroadway productions of Mary Poppins which is adaptedfrom the novels by P. L. Travers and the 1964 film. He wrotethe screenplay for the film The Young Victoria, whichchronicles the early rein of Queen Victoria and featuresEmily Blunt in the title role. Today, the name JulianFellowes is best known to world-wide audiences as thewriter/creator of the incredibly popular period televisiondrama “Downton Abbey.”

Fellowes and his wife, Emma Kitchener, a great-nieceof the first Lord Kitchener and a lady-in-waiting to PrincessMichael of Kent, live in “Hardy Country” near Dorchester.Fellowes inherited the title of Lord of the Manor ofTattershall from his father, making him the fourth in hisfamily to hold the title. Fellowes once said his father gavehim this advice: “If you have the misfortune to be born intoa generation which must earn its living, you might as welldo something amusing.”

P. L. Travers(based on the books by)

Helen Lyndon Groff was born on November 9, 1899 in Queensland Australia.

Called Lyndon as a child, Travers moved at the age ofseven, along with her mother and sisters to New SouthWales after the death of her father. She lived on her aunt’ssugar plantation for 10 years, boarding at Sydney'sNormanhurst Girls School during World War I.

Travers wished to be an actress and dancer. Adoptingthe stage name Pamela Lyndon Travers, she gained amodest reputation as a dancer and Shakespearean actress.Her wealthy relatives, however, did not approve. Feelingthat Australians lacked humor and lyricism, she left forLondon, England, to seek the literary life.

Once in London, she wrote for Australian newspapers,describing her adventures abroad for her home audience.She also began publishing articles in various papers,including poems that she had submitted to Irish Statesman.Its editor, George William Russell, known as AE, became alifelong supporter of Travers, serving as a friend andmentor.

Travers's first published book, Moscow Excursion (1934),utilized her travel-writing experience, but the book thatwould make her famous followed close on its heel.Recovering from a lung ailment in the country, she regaledtwo visiting children with tales of a magical nanny,complete with parrot-head umbrella as a form oftransportation and the ability to have tea parties on theceiling.

Mary Poppins published that same year (1934), and itwas an instant success. Biographer Valerie Lawson wrote,“The original Mary Poppins was not cheery at all. She wastart and sharp, rude, plain and vain. That was her charm;that - and her mystery.” Five more books in the seriesfollowed over the ensuing years, the last being Mary Poppinsand the House Next Door in 1989, all with illustrations byMary Shepard.

The 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins, starring JulieAndrews and Dick Van Dyke, made Travers immenselywealthy, though she reportedly wept tears ofdisappointment and anger at the premiere. She never fullyembraced the Disney version of her heroine,although audiences certainly did. One friendcommented in a documentary on Travers lifethat her statements about the movie are“almost unprintable.”

ParkUmbrellaVaseStep In TimeJolly HolidayMichael

Mary PoppinsGo Fly a KiteBrimstoneDreamsGeorgeJane

Admiral BoomTreaclePolicemanLuckyNannyTuppence

WinifredMrs. BrillMiss Andrew

J O L L Y H O L I D A Y A M M

A T L U M B R E L L A Y C E R

B L U L J A C P L D N E L I S

M A R Y P O P P I N S C E E B

G D D I L N M L A D A H T T R

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B E R A I H Y R R M K I I P L

P A R K Y R F T J A N E S P L

E M D L C I A M Y R V A S E U

T S L E N P O L I C E M A N C

L O E I E A F J B C Y K N C K

J L W G E O R G E O H Y D E Y

S L O L G D T B O P O A R L H

O E A S T E P I N T I M E N A

I O A E N G I W U R I O W L G

Mary PoppinsWord Search

ParkUmbrellaVaseStep In TimeJolly HolidayMichael

Mary PoppinsGo Fly a KiteBrimstoneDreamsGeorgeJane

Admiral BoomTreaclePolicemanLuckyNannyTuppence

WinifredMrs. BrillMiss Andrew

Mary PoppinsWord Search Key

J O L L Y H O L I D A Y A M M

A T L U M B R E L L A Y C E R

B L U L J A C P L D N E L I S

M A R Y P O P P I N S C E E B

G D D I L N M L A D A H T T R

B R I M S T O N E E E I M U I

B E R A I H Y R R M K I I P L

P A R K Y R F T J A N E S P L

E M D L C I A M Y R V A S E U

T S L E N P O L I C E M A N C

L O E I E A F J B C Y K N C K

J L W G E O R G E O H Y D E Y

S L O L G D T B O P O A R L H

O E A S T E P I N T I M E N A

I O A E N G I W U R I O W L G

Across4. Parrot handled7. Servant who cares for children8. “What’s more important a good man ora good _______?”10. Bert’s dusty job11. Based on the books by P.L. ________12. Walt ________

Down1. She’s “Practically Perfect”2. Spoon full of _______3. Jane and Michael’s last name5. _________ Tree Lane6. Mr. Banks’ profession9. Mrs. Banks was an __________

Mary Poppins Crossword

2.

4.

1.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8. 9.

10.

11.

12.

Mary PoppinsCrossword Key

Across4. Parrot handled7. Servant who cares for children8. “What’s more important a good man ora good _______?”10. Bert’s dusty job11. Based on the books by P.L. ________12. Walt ________

Down1. She’s “Practically Perfect”2. Spoon full of _______3. Jane and Michael’s last name5. _________ Tree Lane6. Mr. Banks’ profession9. Mrs. Banks was an __________

M

S A B

U M B R E L L A

G Y N C

A P K H

R O S E

P B R

P A R

I N A N N Y

I D E A N K

C H I M N E Y S W E E P

T R

T R A V E R S

E

D I S N E Y

S

2.

4.

1.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8. 9.

10.

11.

12.

Sources:Biography.comDisney Theatrical Group Mary Poppins Study GuideIBDB.comIMDB.comNYTimes .comPlaybill.comPlaybillvault.comStageAgent.comVillage Theatre Mary Poppins Production Preview Guide

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