Wonderful Amy’s an ideal addition to this magical Mary Poppins cast
CAMERON MACKINTOSH believes Amy Griffiths can play anyone. ‘She’s going to be terrific as the wife,’ he said — the wife in question being Mrs Winifred Banks, spouse of Mr Banks.
The impresario had been discussing the casting for the Mary Poppins musical that he and Disney Theatrical Productions are bringing back to the Prince Edward Theatre from October 23.
Zizi Strallen has been announced as the eponymous nanny created by novelist P.L. Travers, with Charlie Stemp, who will play Bert the chimney sweep, and Petula Clark as the Bird Woman.
Mackintosh said he was impressed by what he’d seen of Ms Griffiths, who will be married to Joseph Millson in the musical by award-winning George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, with a book by Julian Fellowes (by the way, I keep hearing that the Downton Abbey film is enormously entertaining).
The creative team, led by director Richard Eyre, co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne and co-choreographer Stephen Mear, have also cast Claire Moore and Claire Machin in the key roles of Miss Andrew and Mrs Brill.
Both actresses helped put the Tim Firth and Gary Barlow musical The Girls on the map. But Machin has long been associated with the Poppins show — she was involved in early workshops and was in the original production. And Ms Moore recorded the very first demo of Practically Perfect for Poppins. ‘She does a good Julie Andrews impersonation!’ Drewe told me.
Jack North and Barry James are also in the large company, which begins rehearsing the first week in September.