20 hours Ago
As she prepares to bring the world’s most magical nanny to Manchester, Stefanie Jones can barely contain her excitement about playing Mary Poppins. “We know that we are part of something really special,” she said ahead of the musical opening at the Palace Theatre next week where it will effectively enjoy a six-week residency in the city. Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins (Picture: Danny Kaan) The show marks the 20th anniversary of the stage debut of the production based on the story by P L Travers and the subsequent Disney film.
Stefanie is no stranger to playing Mary Poppins having been part of a record-breaking tour in her native Australia. “Mary Poppins is just so incredibly unique,” she said. “Goodness knows where P L Travers pulled her from but she’s just so different.
Is she a witch? Does she have magical powers? There are so many different things you can see in her which raises all sorts of questions. “It’s so interesting to play someone like that who isn’t of this world but has such worldly knowledge.” For many people it will be the 1967 film starring Julie Andrews as Mary and Dick van Dyke as Bert the chimney sweep that they remember.
For the stage musical all those classic songs such as A Spoonful of Sugar and, of course, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious remain but it’s not just a simple copy of the movie. “Clearly a lot of people have such fond memories of the film,” said Stefanie, “but what surprises them all is the way this show exceeds their expectations. That’s what moves us too when we meet them at the stage door and they tell us it was really special.
” Mary Poppins is a major production, equivalent to anything you are likely to see in the West End. The cast of Mary Poppins (Picture: Danny Kaan) “Disney and Cameron Mackintosh know how to produce and tour a full scale production,” said Stefanie. “The standards are so high - that’s why people keep coming back.
Cameron opened the show 20 years ago and it has always been running somewhere in the world ever since. It is so beloved.” From the impressive set and spectacular effects to the impeccably choreographed dance routines, audiences are in for a treat every performance.
“It is a very technically demanding show,” said Stefanie. “There are several hundred separate cues as everything has to be so precise.” In the magical world of Mary Poppins, the marvellous nanny produces reading lamps out of her suitcase, slides up and down banisters and, yes, she also flies high above the London skyline.
“I’m actually OK with the flying,” said Stefanie. “The worst part is when we are setting up in a new venue as I fly without an audience and I can actually see how high I’m going. In the show it’s dark so I don’t realise it so much.
” Mary Poppins is the story of the magical nanny who moves in to look after the children of the Banks family leading them on all sorts of adventures along the way, often aided by Bert the chimney sweep. Bert is played by Jack Chambers who also starred in the Australian production. “It makes it so much more special to be playing Mary in the UK with Jack,” said Stefanie.
“We were so happy that we both got asked to come over. We both inform each other’s performance so well. We both know the show intimately now and yet we are constantly surprised by it every day.
“We had about a year off between the Australian production and this one which was a nice amount of time away from it. Then we returned to work with a new company and all those different actors you really inform your own performance. “I thought that I had found my Mary when I was in the show in Australia but now I feel like she’s different again.
” The show also features award-winning Broadway and West End star Michael D Xavier as Mr Banks and Lucie-Mae Sumner as his wife. Rosemary Ashe plays Mrs Brill, the housekeeper and Patti Boulaye is the Bird Woman. Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins (Picture: Danny Kaan) “We do feel that sense of responsibility being part of something that is so well-loved,” said Stefanie.
“But the musical is separate from the film; it may pay homage to the film but it is also a fresh approach. “It’s lovely that we have been given a bit of freedom by the creatives to introduce our own thoughts and elements into the characters.” As the show has toured the UK multi-generations of the same family have been in the audience.
“That’s just so lovely to see,” said Stefanie. “Yes, it’s the perfect show for kids but there’s so much more in it whatever age you are. It’s full of spectacle and heart and it really is magical.
“I think we’d all love to have someone like Mary Poppins in our lives; an adult who encouraged your imagination, that would be marvellous.” With the shows spending an extended time in Manchester, Stefanie is looking forward to discovering the city. “I got a sneak preview when we were part of Big Night of Musicals at the AO Arena and I really liked what I saw, it’s a cool city,” she said.
Mary Poppins, Palace Theatre, Manchester, Wednesday, April 9 to Saturday, May 17. Details from www.atgtickets.
com.
