Mary Poppins Page #3

(Mary and children walk off stage left. Mr Banks sits down in his chair and scratches his head. Mrs Banks enters from stage left.)

Mrs Banks:
George? George… What on earth are you doing? I thought you were interviewing nannies?

Mr Banks:
I was.

Mrs Banks:
You mean you’ve chosen one already. How clever of you George. I knew I should leave it to you! Where is she?

Mr Banks:
Well… she’s in the nursery of course! I mean I put her to work straight away!

Mrs Banks:
Will she be firm George? Give commands?

Mr Banks:
Do you know…. I think she will!

(Lights Out)

Scene 4- In the Nursery

(In the nursery-similar to living room scene but with empty toybox, a table, toys strewn about, and a mirror on the wall. Children and Mary enter from behind the division, stage right.)

Jane:
This is your room, with a lovely view of the park!

Mary Poppins:
Well, I suppose it will do! (runs finger across table to check for dust) Its clean.. It just needs a few touches like… (Sets carpet bag on table, opens it & takes out items) Well first things first, I need a hat stand to put my hat on. (pulls out hat stand, stands it up and hangs her hat on it, takes off her coat and hangs it up too) and my mirror (takes out a mirror, hangs it up, and looks in it) Ah yes, perfect as usual!! (Michael looks in the bag)

Michael:
But there’s nothing in there!

Mary:
(coming back to the bag) Now Michael, don’t judge things by their appearance!

Michael:
We’d better keep an eye on this one. She’s tricky!

Jane:
She’s wonderful!

Mary:
(looking into the bag and then reaching into it and feeling around inside) Now let me see.. Where is my… where did I put it..

Michael:
What?

Mary:
(still searching)My tape measure.

Michael:
What do you need it for?

Mary:
I want to see how you measure up. Ah here it is. (Pulls out tape measure) Come along quickly Michael. Heads up. Don’t slouch! (Michael stands next to Mary Poppins, is measured, and then Mary Poppins looks at the tape measure) Just as I thought. Extremely stubborn and suspicious.

(Jane starts to giggle)

Michael:
I am not!

Mary:
(showing him the tape) See for yourself!

Michael:
Extremely stubborn and su,,,

Mary:
Suspicious. Now you Jane. (She measures Jane and reads the tape measure) Mmmm Rather inclined to giggle. Doesn’t put things away!

Michael:
How about you?

Mary:
Very well. Hold this for me! (Children hold the bottom of the tape measure and Mary the top, she reads the measurement) As I expected. Mary Poppins. Practically perfect in every way.

(Mary Poppins puts the tape measure back in her bag)

Jane:
Mary Poppins. Is that your name? It’s lovely.

Mary:
Thank you. Now shall we get on with it!

Jane:
Get on with what?

Mary:
In your advertisement... Did you not specifically request to play games?

Jane:
Oh, yes!!!

Mary:
Very well then. Our first game is, well begun is half done!

Michael:
I don’t like the sound of that!

Mary:
Otherwise entitled, let’s tidy up the nursery.

Michael:
(folding his arms) I told you she was tricky!

Mary:
Shall we begin?

Jane:
It is a game, isn’t it Mary Poppins?

Song - Spoonful of Sugar

(As the song is sung, Mary and the children clean up the nursery and use snapping their fingers to do some of the cleaning. The drawers open and close by themselves and the rug straightens by itself.)


Mary:
(looking around and then putting her hat and coat back on) OK, all done. Hats and coats please. It’s time for an outing to the park.

(Jane puts on her coat and hat)

Michael:
(putting on his coat and hat) I don’t want an outing!

Mary:
Come along please. Let me look at you! Well you’re not as well turned out as I’d like, but there’s still time. Now Spit spot!

(They turn and follow Mary off stage right. Lights out)

Scene 5- Streets of London

(The stage is empty except for the two sets which are turned to show St. Paul’s Cathedral and the bank. Bert is centerstage, on his knees, drawing chalk drawings)

Bert:
(Looking up at the audience, standing, brushes off his knees and gestures to the drawings)

Today I’m a screever, and as you can see,

A screever’s an artist – of the highest degree.

And it’s all me own work. From me own memory.

Chim-chiminey, chim-chiminey, chim-chim cheroo

I draws what I Likes and I likes what I drew,

And me cap would be glad of a copper or two!

(Mary Poppins arrives stage left with Michael and Jane as Bert is looking down drawing!)

Bert:
Wait, don’t move. (Kneeling down to trace her shadow) Say right where you are. I’d know that shadow anywhere! (standing up and looking at her) Mary Poppins!

Mary:
It’s nice to see you again, Bert. I expect you know Jane and Michael.

Bert:
Well, I’ve seen them about! Chasin’ a kite most of the time.

Jane:
Mary Poppins is taking us to the park.

Bert:
To the park? Not if I know Mary Poppins. Other nannies take their children to the park. When you’re with Mary Poppins, suddenly you’re in places that you never even dreamed of. And as quick as you can say, Bob's your uncle, the most unusual things happen.

Mary:
I’m sure I haven’t even the faintest idea of what you’re talking about.

Bert:
She’s probably got something in mind like a jolly holiday, or a circus with lions and tigers. ( Pointing to a picture of a circus)

(Michael and Jane step over the pictures to look at them with Bert)

Michael:
Oh yes please, let’s go to the circus!!!

Jane:
Oh, That one’s lovely. If you please, I’d much rather go there.

Bert:
Beautiful, aint it! A typical English countryside, as done by yours truly. There’s a little country fair over the hill there, even though you can’t see it!

Bert:
(Looking around) Now’s the time Mary Poppins, No-one’s looking.

Mary:
I have no intention of making a spectacle of myself. Thank you.

Bert:
Alright. I’ll do it on my own. It’s easy. Let me see. You think. (puts finger to side of head, Michael and Jane copy) You wink. (winks, so do Michael and Jane)You do a double blink. (Bert, Michael, and Jane double blink) You close your eyes and jump! (All close their eyes and jump onto the picture)

Mary:
Bert what utter nonsense. (stepping over the painting to join them) Oh, why do you always complicate things that are really quite easy! Give me your hand Jane. Michael you hold on to Bert. Don’t slouch. Ready… One… Two…… (They all jump on to the picture. Lights out)

Scene 5- In the Chalk Countryside

(The stage is empty except for the two sets which are covered with sheets. The countryside scene will be projected onto the set stage right. Mary Poppins holding hands with Jane and Bert holding hands with Michael are standing center stage as though they have just finished jumping into the picture. Start the video clip for countryside scene. All look around and see sepia scene. Mary clears her throat, clicks her fingers, and the scene turns to color. The sound of the merry go round is heard.)

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