The Knowing of Mary Poppins May 22, 2009

The Knowing of Mary Poppins
Written by MARCEL DORNEY, LEAH MERCER, MARGI BROWN ASH, STACE CALLAGHAN, and CAROL SCHMIDT
Discover the inspiring Australian woman who created a global icon
At the Darlinghurst Theatre Company from May 20

The Knowing of Mary Poppins magically brings to life the story of Mary Poppins’ author, Queensland-born P.L. Travers. This new play, written by five writers including Marcel Dorney, writer/director Leah Mercer, Carol Schmidt and also Margi Brown Ash, Stace Callaghan who also appear in the production, peeks behind Poppins’ fairytale umbrella to reveal a most-unconventional woman.

“Mary Poppins is not just for children,” said writer/director Leah Mercer. “There are Zen references sprinkled throughout the eight books. Travers herself was a radical, free-spirit. Audiences will be fascinated to know more about this forgotten Queensland literary treasure”.

Before the movie version tamed Mary Poppins, the original character was a study in contradictions. The real Mary Poppins was comforting and threatening; conventional and peculiar; down to earth and literally out of this world. Travers herself was as contradictory as her heroine and lived her life in a way that propelled her from one extreme to another. She remade herself countless times. Throughout her life she became an actress, a writer of erotic poetry, a journalist and a spiritualist.

The Knowing of Mary Poppins invites the audience into the surreal world of Travers’ imagination where enchantment, magic and fairy tale characters come out to play. The play intermingles realistic dramatic scenes with more surreal sequences and is set in a beautiful and heightened theatrical landscape. It combines original material, Travers’ own writings and evocative original music and captivating soundscape. The Knowing of Mary Poppins is the story of a woman who was many people in one. Just when the audience might have her pinned down she steps out of the light to leave them pondering life’s secrets.

“This production is exceptional,“ said Darlinghurst Theatre Company Director Glen Terry. “Its won three Matilda Awards, the script has been published and there was a real danger that this terrific show would not be presented in Sydney. So Darlinghurst Theatre Company has put up the budget and is supporting the company to bring the production to Sydney.
“I want people to know more about P.L Travers. She is an iconic Australian who was way ahead of her time,” Glen Terry added. “During the season we will be showcasing the production to Australian Presenters in order to create a National tour. Its a show that deserves to be seen.”

Winner of a Silver Matilda for direction, a Gold Matilda for outstanding performance by Margi Brown Ash and a special commendation for outstanding independent production at the 2006 Matilda Awards in Brisbane, The Knowing of Mary Poppins will play a limited season at the Darlinghurst Theatre from May 20.

a masterful work of uplifting and enlightening theatre that simply has the audience buzzing with enthusiasm by the end….It truly is an extraordinary piece of theatre and I am not sure I will ever by quite the same again…Try not to miss it because you just might, like me, be missing the experience of a lifetime.
ABC Brisbane

enchanting bits of business and some moment of theatrical magic
The Courier-Mail

This play contains mature themes and is suitable for audiences aged 15 and up.

Official Website: www.darlinghursttheatre.com