Mary Poppins (character) of the stage musical, the Mary Poppins character is more deliberately mysterious than in the movie version. She is slightly stricter with the children (who are also naughtier than their book and movie counterparts) but only because she wants them to become the best they can be. Mary in the stage version is also more aware of Bert's feelings towards her. Mary Poppins first appeared in the short story "Mary Poppins and the Match Man" in 1926, and in several early bits and pieces of the first novel. P.L. Travers later changed the story of the character's origins, stating that
Mary Poppins (musical) 2015, directed by Richard Eyre. It starred Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins and Matt Lee reprising his original role in the Australian production as Bert. On 14 September 2018, it was announced that a West End revival would open in autumn 2019, returning to the Prince Edward Theatre 11 years after the original production had closed there. Zizi Strallen will play the title role (following the 2015-16 UK Tour) alongside Charlie Stemp as Bert. "Mary Poppins" has been played in Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden,