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 Returns the air. Luckily, Mary Poppins descends from the clouds with the kite in hand. The kids, along with Mary Poppins, head back to the Banks' house, where Michael and Jane are astonished to see their old nanny. Michael agrees to let Mary Poppins stay at their house. Mary insists that the children should take a bath after playing in the park, and they disappear into the bathtub, exploring an underwater world ("Can You Imagine That?"). While in the nursery, the children come up with an idea to save their home by selling their mother's china bowl. However, an argument ensues