Sydney Reviews

Photo - Juanita Broderick

Did you know that Mary Poppins appeared in a series of children's books long before Walt Disney got his hands on her? The Knowing of Mary Poppins is the life story of the author of these books, P.L. Travers, who happens to have been born in sunny Queensland. The play was first performed in Brisbane in 2005 and appeared at the Adelaide Fringe festival in 2008.

This “bio play” shares many of the problems of the ”bio pics” that inevitably pop up in cinemas around Academy Awards time. How do you fit a person’s entire life into a script and what themes should you use to tie the play together so it isn’t just a rambling chronology?

The five writers have tried to cram Travers’ 96 years into a 75 minute play. The story becomes messy as key moments are glossed over. We never learn what exactly Travers objected to about the Disney treatment of Mary Poppins. In real life Travers always kept her correspondence with Walt Disney private, so we’ll never know for sure. It is a pity the writers don’t try to guess these intentions. This would have made the exchanges between Travers and Disney more interesting. Also unclear is her relationship with a Japanese guru and what she actually learnt from him. The ending is a bit of a grab bag and leaves the audience feeling confused.

However, the play is worth seeing for its tight production values and superb acting. The three actors, Margi Brown Ash, Stace Callaghan and Molly Knight, play a multitude of characters. A child, middle-aged, and elderly versions of Travers chat to one another on stage as the elder Travers’ tries to sort out her memories.

The physicality and versatility of Stace Callaghan is particularly compelling. She begins on her back as newborn baby, perfectly mimicking its cries and movements. She also masters a little boy, a little girl, Irish poet A.E. and the Mickey Mouse eared Walt Disney himself.

The stage is full of props, scattered everywhere like the brain of the elderly Travers. The stage never looks cluttered, as the actors move the props about with precision. Pianist Robert D Clark performs live on stage, tucked away in the far right hand corner of the stage and we cannot see what he is doing. This kind of defeats the point of having a live musician.

The Knowing of Mary Poppins isn’t exactly supercalifragilisticexpialidocious nor is this famous long word used in the play. It is still worth a look though for its tight production values and superb acting.


Darlinghurst Theatre Company and the nest present
The Knowing of Mary Poppins
Written by Marcel Dorney, Leah Mercer, Margi Brown Ash, Stace Callaghan, and Carol Schmidt

Director Leah Mercer

Venue: Darlinghurst Theatre Company | 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point
Dates: 22 May to 13 June
Times: Tuesday - Saturday 8pm, Sunday 5pm
Matinees: Sat 6, Wed 10 June & Sat 13 June at 3pm
Tickets: Adult $37, Concession $32, Preview $27
Bookings: www.darlinghursttheatre.com or 02 8356 9987