SYNOPSIS ACT 2
The fall has turned to winter. The house is bustling again, because a nanny is returning to No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane. However, it’s not the much-missed Mary Poppins, but Miss Andrew, who raised George. Miss Andrew is a harsh woman who believes that children should be punished on a regular basis with a horrible tasting medicine (Brimstone and Treacle). In a panic, the children escape the house and run to the park where they meet Bert, who explains that the cure for every ill can be found at the end of a kite string (Let’s Go Fly a Kite). Their kite flies up into the London sky and when it comes back down, Mary Poppins is with it. George has also been hiding from Miss Andrew (Good for Nothing). With her entire family missing, Winifred worries that she’s to blame but resolves to assert herself and fight harder for the people she loves (Being Mrs. Banks).
Mary returns home with the children and defeats Miss Andrew in an epic battle of wits and will. George returns, relieved to find that Miss Andrew has left, but still anxious about supporting his family. Winifred reminds him he can count on her and the children to stick by him.
Whisked up to the rooftops, Mary Poppins, Jane, and Michael meet Bert and his fellow chimney sweeps (Step in Time). The sweeps dance across the rooftops of London and into the Bankses’ house, wishing good luck to George and shaking his hand as they go.
The Bank Chairman asks to see George immediately. George fears the worst, but Bert reminds him that his family is more important than his ambitions (A Man Has Dreams – Reprise/A Spoonful of Sugar – Reprise). George leaves for the bank. Winifred wishes she could go with him. Mary Poppins and the children encourage her to do what she believes is right (Anything Can Happen).
In front of the bank’s board of directors, George launches into a defense of his actions before they can tell him that he was right all along: Von Hussler’s scheme has fallen through and the competing bank that approved his loan has been ruined. Northbrook’s business, on the other hand, is thriving and earning a healthy profit. Winifred shows up, ready to defend her husband, but when she finds the board is promoting him, she negotiates his raise for him. George announces that from now on his family comes first. As George and Winifred walk along the streets of London, Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael on one more magical adventure – this time through the heavens.
Her job done, Mary Poppins says her goodbyes and flies off to her next task. Although the Banks family is sad to see her go, they are glad that they have finally found one another.
