Mary Poppins

Characters:

Mary Poppins: (F, Age: 20s) Jane and Michael Banks’s new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet very particular, and sometimes a little frightening, but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is key. Please note that this character will fly in our production, so the actor must be comfortable with heights and rigging. Appropriate training will be provided. Voice: Mezzo Soprano, Gb3 – C6  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Jane Banks: (F, Age: 11) The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. This role may be double-cast. Voice: Child Soprano, A3 – F#5  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Michael Banks: (M, Age: 9) The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. This role may be double-cast. Voice: Male Soprano, A3 – E5  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Bert: (M, Age: 30s) The narrator of the story, a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist, and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent, and is a songand-dance-man. Please note that this character will fly in our production, while tapping upside-down. The actor must be comfortable with heights and rigging. Appropriate training will be provided. Voice: Baritone, Bb2 – F#4  |  Accent: Cockney

George Banks: (M, Age: 40s) Father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding “precision and order” in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn’t have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. Voice: Baritone, A2 – F4  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Winifred Banks: (F, Age: 30s – 40s) George’s wife and Jane and Michael’s mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband’s desire to only associate with “the best people” as well as be a model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she’s not up to the job of “being Mrs. Banks,” yet she is, and more. She has a great warmth and simplicity to her tone. Voice: Mezzo Soprano, G#3 – E5  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Mrs. Brill: (F, Age: 50s) The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she’s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn’t have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. Voice: Alto, F#3 – Eb5  |  Accent: Cockney

Robertson Ay: (M, Age: 20s) The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. Voice: Tenor, F#3 – G5  |  Accent: Cockney

Bird Woman: (F, Age: 40s +) Covered in a patch-work of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn’t exist. Sings “Feed the Birds.” There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Voice: Alto, Gb3 – Db5  |  Accent: Cockney

Admiral Boom: (M, Age: 50s) A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Miss Lark: (F, Age: 30s-40s) The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if he were her child. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Miss Andrew: (F, Age: 40s – 50s) George’s overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things – her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with the range. Voice: Soprano, E3 – A5  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Katie Nanna: (F, Age: 30s) Jane and Michael’s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Bank Chairman: (M, Age: 50s) the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. Voice: Baritone, C3-C4  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Miss Smythe: (F, Age: 40s) The Bank Chairman’s humorless secretary. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Mrs. Corry: (F, Age: Any) Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age. Voice: Mezzo Soprano, C4-F#5  |  Accent: Caribbean or other exotic accent

Neleus: (M, Age: 14-20) The statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. Voice: Baritone, B2-F#4  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Park Keeper: (M, Age: 40s – 50s) Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. Voice: Tenor  |  Accent: Cockney

John Northbrook: (M, Age: 30s – 40s) An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Northern England

Von Hussler: (M, Age: 30s – 40s) A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. Voice: Any  |  Accent: German

Valentine: (M, Age: Any) A stuffed boy doll belonging to Jane. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Any British

Teddy Bear: (M or F, Age: Any) TEDDY BEAR, MR. PUNCH, and DOLL are toys belonging to Jane and Michael. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Any British

Mr. Punch: (M or F, Age: Any) TEDDY BEAR, MR. PUNCH, and DOLL are toys belonging to Jane and Michael. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Any British

Doll: (M or F, Age: Any) TEDDY BEAR, MR. PUNCH, and DOLL are toys belonging to Jane and Michael. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Any British

Queen Victoria Statue: (F, Age: 40s) A statue in the park. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Standard British / Received Pronunciation

Policeman: (M, Age: 30s – 40s) A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of the households on his beat. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Cockney

Annie: (F, Age: 20s) ANNIE and FANNIE are Mrs. Corry’s daughters. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Any British

Fannie: (F, Age: 20s) ANNIE and FANNIE are Mrs. Corry’s daughters. Voice: Any  |  Accent: Any British

Messenger: (M or F, Age: Any) Messenger from delivery service. Voice: Any  |  Accent: NA

Sweeps, Board Members, Statues, Toys, Clerks, Customers, Kite Flyers, Passers-by