Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins is the central character in a series of children's books written by P. L. Travers and illustrated by Mary Shepard. The character of Mary Poppins is a mysterious anti-heroine, bitter magical English women blown by a windstorm to Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, London and into the Banks' household to care for the Banks' children; Jane (the eldest), Michael, and twin babies John and Barbara as a nanny. Mary Poppin's character was adapted for film and also for the stage. The first book, Mary Poppins was published in 1934. The story portrays the adventures of Mary Poppins: her encounters with Chimney Sweeps, pavements artists and shopkeepers. In 1938 Walt Disney attempted to purchase the film rights to Mary Poppins from P.L. Travers, but was not successful at start, as Travers believed that film wouldn't bring out the same effect the book brought. Latter in 1961 Travers agreed. In the film 'Jolly Holiday' Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) magically converts every household chore into a funny game and so every single day becomes an adventure. The character Bert who is the multitalented chimney sweep is interesting. Some of the subject matters in the novels may have been influenced by the author's association with G. I. Gurdjieff, the Greek Armenian mystic and 'teacher of dancing', whom Travers met in 1938. The part of Mary Poppins in Cameron Mackintosh's stage adaptation of the Disney film's Mary Poppin was played by Laura Michelle Kelly, who subsequently won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the role. In October 2006, a Broadway version Ashley Brown has played the part of Mary Poppins.