A play for students of form 7 "Mary Poppins"

AUTHOR.  Cherry Tree Lane is a nice London street. On one side there are houses, on the other there is a park. The cherry-trees go dancing right in the middle. Number Seventeen is the smallest house in the street. The Banks live in this house. They are six - Mr. and Mrs. Banks and their four children - Jane, Michael and the twins - Barbara and John. Mrs. Banks has a lot of housework and she has a nurse to help her with the children. But one day their nurse left them and Mrs. Bank didn't know what to do.

MR BANKS.  Write to the newspaper and the nurses will come.

Wanted. Uh, no. Uh, required. Nanny: firm, respectable, no nonsense.

A British nanny must be a general

The future empire lies within her hands

And so the person that we need

To mold the breed

Is a nanny who can give commands

You getting this, Winifred?

MRS BANKS. Oh, yes, dear. Every word.

A British bank is run with precision

A British home requires nothing less

Tradition, discipline and rules must be the tools

Without them, disorder, catastrophe, anarchy

In short you have a ghastly mess.

JANE. Father?

MR BANKS. Yes?

JANE. We've discussed everything, and we're very sorry about what we did today.

MR BANKS. I should certainly think so.

JANE. And we do so want to get on with the new nanny.

MR BANKS. Very sensible. I shall be glad to have your help in the matter.

JANE. We thought you would. That's why we wrote this advertisement.

MR BANKS. Advertisement for what?

JANE. For the new nanny.

MR BANKS. You wrote an advert--

MRS BANKS. George, I think we should listen.

JANE. You said you wanted our help.

MR BANKS. But, I-- oh, very well.

JANE. "Wanted: a nanny for two adorable children."

MR BANKS. "Adorable." well, that's debatable, I must say.

JANE. If you want this choice position - Have a cheery disposition

MR BANKS. Jane, I don't--

JANE. Rosy cheeks, no warts

MICHAEL. That's the part I put in.

JANE. Play games, all sorts

You must be kind you must be witty

Very sweet and fairly pretty

MR BANKS. Well, of all the ridic-
MRS BANKS. George, please!

Hurry, nanny

Many thanks

Sincerely

JANE AND MICHAEL. Jane and Michael Banks.

MR BANKS. Thank you. Most interesting. And now I think we've had quite enough of this nonsense. Please return to the nursery.

MRS BANKS. They were only trying to help. They're just children.

MR BANKS. I'm well aware they're just children, Winifred. I only congratulate myself that I decided to step in and take a hand. "Play games, sing songs, give treats." Ridiculous. Now is the time for action.

JANE. Look! The trees are dancing!

AUTHOR. It was a woman with her hat on and a bag in her right hand. Suddenly a strange thing happened. The wind lifted her up and brought her to the garden door. When the woman opened it, the wind lifted her up again and carried her at the front door.

Mary Poppins: You are the father of Jane and Michael Banks, are you not?

Mr. Banks: Well, well ye-- yes, of course, I mean. Uh-- you brought your references, I presume. May I see them?

Mary Poppins: Oh, I make it a point never to give references. A very old-fashioned idea to my mind.

Mr. Banks: Is that so?

Mary Poppins: Now then, the qualifications. "Item one: a cheery disposition." I am never cross. "Item two: rosy cheeks." Obviously. "Item three: play games, all sorts." Well, I'm sure the children will find my games extremely diverting.

Mr. Banks: May I? Eh, this paper? Where did you get it from? I thought I tore it up.

Mary Poppins: Excuse me. "Item four: you must be kind." I am kind, but extremely firm. Have you lost something?

Mr. Banks: Ah! Yeah. That paper, you see. I thought that I--

Mary Poppins: You are George Banks, are you not? And you did advertise for a nanny, did you not?

Mr. Banks: Yes, I am George Banks.

Mary Poppins: Very well then. Now, about my wages. The reference here is very obscure.

Mr. Banks: Very obscure.

Mary Poppins: I shall require every second Tuesday off.

Mr. Banks: Every Tuesday.

Mary Poppins: On second thoughts, I believe a trial period would be wise. Hmm. I'll give you one week. I'll know by then. I'll see the children now. Thank you.

Close your mouth please, Michael. We are not a codfish. Well, don't stand there staring. Best foot forward. Spit spot!

Michael: Mary Poppins, will you never leave us?

Mary Poppins: Till the wind changes.

Michel: What a funny bag! There was nothing inside.

But the next moment Mary Poppins took out a white apron, a large cake of soap, a tooth-brush, a packet of hairpins, a bottle of perfume and a small armchair. Jane and Michael were shocked.

Author: Jane and Michael were very surprised. Now they knew that something strange and wonderful happened at their house.

Mary Poppins: Much better! Now, let me see. That's funny. I always carry it with me. It must be here somewhere.

Michael: What?

Mary Poppins: My tape measure.

Michael: What do you want it for?

Mary Poppins: I want to see how you two measure up. Well, that's the funniest thing I ever saw. I know it's down here somewhere. Ah, ha-ha, ha-ha! Here it is. Good. Come along, then. Quickly. Head up, Michael. Just as I thought. Extremely stubborn and suspicious.

Michael: I am not!

Mary Poppins: See for yourself.

Michael: "Extremely stubborn and sus--"

Mary Poppins: Suspicious. Now you, Jane. Mmm. "Rather inclined to giggle. Doesn't put things away."

Michael: How about you?

Mary Poppins: Very well. Hold this for me. As I expected. "Mary Poppins. Practically perfect in every way."

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

Mary Poppins: Thank you. I've always liked it. Now, shall we get on with it?

Jane: Get on with what?

Mary Poppins: In your advertisement, did you not specifically request to play games?

Jane: Oh, yes!

Mary Poppins: Very well, then. Our first game is called "well begun is half done."

Michael: I don't like the sound of that.

Mary Poppins: Otherwise entitled, "let's tidy up the nursery."

Michael: I told you she was tricky.

Mary Poppins: Shall we begin?

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

Mary Poppins:

Well, it depends on your point of view. You see,

In every job that must be done,

There is an element of fun.

You find the fun, and snap!

The job's a game.

And every task you undertake

Becomes a piece of cake.

Thank you. Hats and coats, please. It's time for our outing in the park. There's time. Spit spot! And off we go.

Next day

Mrs. Banks: I'm so sorry you're not feeling well this morning, George.

Mr. Banks: Who said I'm not feeling well? I'm fit as a fiddle. I just don't understand why everyone's so cheerful!

Jane & Michael:

Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious

Mr. Banks: Stop! Stop! Stop!

Jane: Good morning, Father.

Mr. Banks: Good morning.

Jane: Mary Poppins taught us the most wonderful words.

Michael: Supercalifragilistic- expialidocious

Mr. Banks: What on earth are you talking about? Supercali-- super-- or whatever the infernal thing is. Winifred, will you be good enough to explain this unseemly hullabaloo?
Mrs. Banks:

I don't think there's anything to explain, do you? It's obvious that you're out of sorts this morning. The children just came in to make you feel better.

Michael and Jane are coming into the room. Their parents are sleeping.

Michael, Jane: Where are they? It is 8 o`clock sharp. Our father always has his breakfast and hurries to the bank at this time.

Jane: It is strange! He always does everything in time and he is never late. What could happen?

The children notice their parents who are sleeping at the table.

Michael: Quiet!

The children are coming to the table and notice a kite.

Michael: Jane! Look! They have made a kite for us!

Jane: How beautiful it is! Father, dear, won`t you be late for work?

 Mr. Banks: Oh! Children! I have made it at last! And your mother helped me and she did not go to the meeting of the women`s club.

Children: Thank you mother! Thank you father!

Michael: And when will we be able to flight our kite?

Mr. Banks: OK. It is 8 o`clock now. Can we go to the park and flight it now, mother?

Michael: But, father, what about your work?

Mr. Banks: What trifles! By 10 I will have had enough time and I will have my breakfast in the bank. So, children, do you like such a plan?

Children: Hooray!

Mr. Banks: So, let`s not waste time! Go to the park!

Children are hopping and leaving the room. Mary with a parrot are entering the room.

Mary (watching the Banks): They are wonderful, aren`t they?

Parrot: They are thankless! They haven`t even remembered you, Mary! And neither me!

Mary: It means that they are happy. It sometimes happens. Don`t cry, honey!

Parrot: Isn`t it a pity for you?

Mary: Not at all. My aim is to make people happy. The main thing is that they have understood that they need each other.

Parrot: Oh! What is it?

Mary: It is just fresh winter of changing!

Parrot: And this means…

Mary: Yes, it means that we are going to leave. Somebody else needs us. And this is beautiful! Remember, my friend! It is happiness when someone needs you, when somebody waits for you somewhere.

Parrot: So, you are leaving. And what about me? Will you leave me?

Mary: Of course, I will take you with me. Your wings are so weak. We will fly away together, my little friend.

Parrot: Mary, you are an angel!

Mary: Everybody is an angel but with only one wing. And we can fly only embarrassing each other.

To the audience

Remember about this, dear friends!