Mary Poppins is everyone’s ideal nanny but this musical, “Black Mary Poppins,” takes a different view.

 

 

Inspired by Australian novelist P. L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins” series, the new production revolves around a nanny and four children she takes care of. British banker Mr Banks is replaced by psychologist Grantschen Schwartz in Nazi Germany and the mischievous children become wounded spirits who have lost their memory due to trauma.

 

 

The musical begins with a shadow play in which a nanny manipulates the children. When the curtain goes up, a simple set is revealed with layers of frames in the background, a revolving stage and four chairs on each side of the stage.

 

A fire breaks out in Dr Schwartz’s house and he is killed, leaving only his ashes. His four adopted children are saved by their nanny Mary Schmit, who is severely burnt, but lose their memories. A detective investigating the fire suspects Mary of arson. She then goes missing during the investigation, deepening his suspicion. The children are sent to different foster families and the case seems to be closed.

 

 

Some 12 years later the eldest, Hans, an alcoholic lawyer, receives a notebook from the detective, which originally belonged to his adoptive father Dr Schwartz. When he reads it, he has to summon - and even kidnap — his adopted brothers and sister - painter Herman, music teacher Anna and the youngest Jonas, suffering from a panic disorder.

 

 

The four siblings go back and forth between the present and future to recover their missing memories of “Silent Wednesday.” As secrets are uncovered layer by layer, they face the dark truth about the people they trusted.