Character Descriptions​

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MARY POPPINS

Jane and Michael Banks' new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain, yet sometimes frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo-soprano with strong top notes should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction are the key. Must tap.
Age: 20 to 40
Vocal range top: C6
Vocal range bottom: Gb3

BERT

The narrator of the story is Mary Poppins' good friend. Bert, an everyman, has many
occupations, including being a hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist, and chimney sweeper. Bert watches over the children and the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent, and is a song-and-dance man. Must tap.
Age: 30’s/40’s
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: B2

GEORGE BANKS

The father of 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.
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2

WINIFRED BANKS

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" and 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. She has great warmth and simplicity in her tone.
Age: 30-40
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
 

MINIMUM AGE FOR YOUTH ACTORS IS 7 

JANE

The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.
Age: 11 to 12
Vocal range top: F#5
Vocal range bottom: A3

MICHAEL

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 to get the attention of their parents.
Age: 9 to 10
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: A3

KATIE NANNA

Jane and Michael's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has had her fill of the Banks children.
Age: 30 to 50

POLICEMAN

A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat.
Age: 30 to 50

MISS LARK

The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby,
as if he were her child.
Age: 30 to 45

ADMIRAL BOOM

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.
Age: 50 to 60

MRS. BRILL

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.
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: D#5
Vocal range bottom: F#3

ROBERTSON AY

The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. Physical comedy required.
Age: 20s
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: F3

PARK KEEPER

Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood.
Age: 40 to 50

NELEUS

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. Must be a strong dancer.
Age: 16 to 25

QUEEN VICTORIA
A statue in the park.
Age: 40 to 50

BANK CHAIRMAN

The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt.
Age: 50s to 60s
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3

MISS SMYTHE

The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary.
Age: 30 to 50

VON HUSSLER

A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.
Age: 30s

JOHN NORTHBROOK

An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England.
Age: 30s

BIRD WOMAN

Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her 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."
Age: 40s to 50s
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3

MRS. CORRY

The owner of a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic).
Age: 40s to 50s

MISS ANDREW

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.
Age: 40s to 60s
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3

ADULT & CHILD ENSEMBLE 

Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Park walkers, Mrs. Corry’s customers, and Chimney sweeps.​​