How nervous is the Mouse about “Mary Poppins,” the new stage version of the Academy Award winning film that Disney Theatrical and Cameron Mackintosh are opening in London later this year? So nervous that a cadre of Disney Company executives are allegedly actually flying over to the UK early next week. Just to take in a performance of “The Time of My Life.”
“And what — pray tell — is ‘The Time of Your Life’?,” you ask. Well, it’s a one-night-only concert that Mr. Mackintosh is presenting which pays tribute to the words & music of Julian Slade. A show that features performances by Anthony Andrews, Rosie Ashe, Alex Jennings and Joanna Riding.
Mind you, the real reason that all those Disney execs are traveling from LA to London ISN’T to hear Mr. Andrews and/or Ms. Riding sing. But — rather — to gauge how the crowd reacts to Laura Michelle Kelly and Gavin Lee.
“And who are Laura Michelle Kelly and Gavin Lee?,” you query. The two actors that the Mouse & Mackintosh have chosen to play Mary Poppins & Bert the chimney sweep, respectively.
What these Disney execs are hoping to see on stage next Tuesday night at the Bristol Old Vic is pure theatrical magic. To have the audience immediately embrace Kelly & Lee and quickly take these two relatively unknown performers into their hearts. For Laura & Gavin have an awful lot riding on their shoulders.
“How much exactly?,” you persist. Would you believe the most expensive musical ever mounted in the history of the theater?
I know, I know. That’s a pretty amazing claim. But I’m told that Disney Theatrical has been writing some pretty big checks lately. As has Mr. Mackintosh. All in an effort to make sure that the stage show that debuts at London’s Prince Edward theatre this coming December is unlike anything that audiences have ever seen before.
The good news is … Disney Theatrical insiders say that “Poppins” is “… looking damn good.” The production team that Mickey & Mackintosh assembled — director Richard Eyre, acclaimed choreographer Matthew Bourne (who’s handling all of the show’s musical staging as well) and Bob Crowley (The “Aida” vet who’s handing “Mary Poppins” ‘s sets and costumes) — has reportedly put together a simply stunning looking show.
The downside is … All this artistry comes at a price. And — given that Disney Theatrical isn’t really assured of a speedy return on its investment here (After all, Mickey has to split every tuppence that “Mary” takes in with Cameron. 50/50. Straight down the middle) — every penny counts right now. Which is why — as Mouse House accountants watch the amount of money that Disney Theatrical is pouring into “Poppins” creep ever skyward — they’ve come up with a new nickname for this production: “Scary Poppins.”
Of course, some of you may be asking: “Why is that the Walt Disney Company — which produced the original ‘Mary Poppins’ movie back in 1964 — co-producing the stage version with Cameron Mackintosh?” Well, the short answer to that question is: The Mouse never actually had the theatrical rights to this property.
Strange but true, folks. When Walt Disney cut that deal with PL Travers in the early 1960s, all that Disney actually acquired was the rights to make a “Mary Poppins” movie. Travers retained the rest of the theatrical rights to her characters. With the hope that someday PL might be able to find just the right producer to help her mount a stage version of her “Mary Poppins” books.
Mind you, every impresario that wanted to produce a stage version of “Mary Poppins” also wanted their show to feature the songs from the 1964 Academy Award winning score. And — given that Disney was never going to allow that to happen unless the Mouse got the lion’s share of the ticket sales — all these proposed stage versions of “Mary Poppins” never really got past the talking phase.
Still, Walt Disney Company execs never really lost hope that — someday, if they waited long enough — PL Travers would eventually relent and award the Mouse House the rest of the theatrical rights to “Mary Poppins.” Which perhaps explains why — ‘way back in April of 1994 — the then-Chairman of Walt Disney Attractions *** Nunis (While attending the opening night party for “Beauty & the Beast”) had this exchange with a reporter:
QUESTION: Given “Beauty and the Beast” ‘s reception tonight, do you think that Disney will be headed back to Broadway anytime soon?
NUNIS: Absolutely. We’re already looking into other ideas for shows we can produce. Other films we can adapt to the stage.
QUESTION: Really? Adapting other Disney films to the stage? Which movies are we talking about?
NUNIS: I’m really not supposed to say. Let’s just say … Our next show will be supercalifraglisticexpialidocious.
Kind of a broad hint that Disney already had a stage version of “Poppins” in the works, don’t you think? Well, that was over 10 years ago, folks. Which gives you some idea how confident the folks at Disney Theatrical were that the Disney corporation would eventually land the rest of the theatrical rights to “Mary Poppins.” Which was why (understandably) Mouse House executives were shocked when — just prior to her passing in April 1996 — PL Travers awarded the “Poppins” stage rights to British theatrical impresario Cameron Mackintosh.
And — with that unexpected development — all serious development on Disney’s stage version of “Mary Poppins” stopped within Disney Theatrical for the next five years. Mackintosh would occasionally talk to the British press about how he hoped someday to produce a stage version of “Poppins.” But — beyond that — things never really moved beyond the talking phase.
This show’s big break didn’t really come ’til December of 2001. When — without letting anyone at Disney Theatrical know what he was up to — Thomas Schumacher flew off to the south of France to meet with Mackintosh. At that fateful meeting, Thomas allegedly asked Cameron the $64 question: Given that Disney would never sell its “Poppins” rights to Mackintosh & Mackintosh would never sell his “Poppins” rights to Disney, why don’t the two companies just go halvsies on this show?
Cameron — to Schumacher’s surprise — immediately sparked to this idea. So Thomas went back to his bosses at Disney. And — eight months later (after a protracted series of negotiations between Disney, Mackintsoh and P.L. Travers’ estate) — these two theatrical giants held a press conference in October 2002 to announce that they’d be teaming up to produce a theatrical version of “Mary Poppins.”
And 21 months later, here we are … Waiting for the first real indications of the magic to come. Which brings us back to those Disney executives flying over to London just to attend next Tuesday night’s performance of “The Time of Your Life.”
Mind you, while they’re in the U.K., these Mouse House officials are also expected to attend a few “Mary Poppins” rehearsals. Rehearsals of this stage extravaganza just got underway earlier this month. The company — under Eyre’s direction — will spend the next six weeks getting the show on its feet. Then the cast & production team heads on down to Bristol where “Mary Poppins” will undergo a two month long try-out at the Hippodrome.
And — if all goes well in Bristol — “Mary Poppins” will sail into London’s Prince Edward theatre this December. After which — provided that the critics say nice things & ticket sales remain strong — a Broadway version of “Mary Poppins” could pop up on the Great White Way as early as Christmas 2005.
But — for now — the only thing that counts is getting the London version of the show right. Which is why the producers keep throwing money at “Mary Poppins.” Which is why Disney’s contribution to this show is already rumored to be well north of $20 million.
Then — when you consider that Cameron Mackintosh is reportedly matching the Mouse’s money dollar for dollar — we’re talking about an incredibly expensive production here. So is it it any wonder that Thomas Schumacher’s position as the head of Disney Theatrical is said to be riding on whether or not “Mary Poppins” turns out to be a smash hit?
For now … Well, I guess all we can do is keep our fingers crossed for the folks in Disney Theatrical and hope that “Mary Poppins” doesn’t turn out to be “Scary Poppins.” But — rather — a “Jolly Holiday” for Thomas Schumacher and the rest of the nervous execs at the Mouse House.
In the weeks ahead, JHM will try to keep track of all the “Poppins” related stories coming out of the UK Starting — of course — with what audiences think of Laura Michelle Kelly & Gavin Lee’s performance next Tuesday night at the Bristol Old Vic.
So we’ll keep you posted on “Poppins,” folks.
Your thoughts?