Temper, Temper is no longer

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 8:18am

With the recent rehearsals for the new cast came another addition to the production: a new song. Anthony Drewe and George Stiles penned the fresh number, "Playing the Game," which replaces "Temper, Temper," in the nursery of Jane and Michael Banks. The song was introduced in North America in the March 2009 launch of the Mary Poppins national tour.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/133694-Laura_Michelle_Kelly_and_Christian_Borle_Sweep_Into_Mary_Poppins_Oct._12

I'm kind of mad that I never got to see this song, but I'm more excited to see Laura Michelle Kelly as Mary Poppins.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 10:32am

Ugh, that was such a good song/scene.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 11:44am

It's on THAT SITE. Shh...

I finally have an urge to see POPPINS now (I still haven't seen it) just to see Laura Michelle.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 11:45am

Temper Temper was creepy, but it effectively made its point and it was no more scary or creepy than Brimstone and Treacle. I saw Playing the Game in the Chicago production and it just didn't work or make much sense. I didn't get that there was a lesson being learned and the song resembled too much of what we'd already heard.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 11:50am

I've always found it odd that they don't have a problem with Brimstone and Treacle, where at the end Miss Andrew is put in a cage and ostentatiously sent to hell.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 11:52am

^^^
I agree, adamgreer.

I loved "Temper, Temper" and thought it worked great on stage, it's a shame.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 12:22pm

Well if Temper, Temper is no longer, Mary Poppins should be no longer!

[broadwaypink]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 12:34pm

UGH! i loved this song. Defiantly one of my favorites. it took a new spin to MAry Poppins and made it a little dark i thought.

When i saw it i was actually looking at my watch. i was very bored. Im glad to hear that a lot of people like this show though.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 2:35pm

Any news on WHY it was taken out? Was it just an attempt to speed up the show and trim it a bit?

I liked that number, not as magnificent as some of the other songs, but I thought the concept was a great one.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 2:38pm

>ostentatiously<

ostensibly?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 2:49pm

I'm not sure why it was taken out but I know that some people felt the number was too scary for children which is ridiculous since it's no scarier than Brimstone and Treacle or anything you'd see on television. I'm pretty sure they had already modified the song from London to make it less scary so I am not sure why they're just straight-up cutting it now. I thought it worked really well in the show even though it's not one of the stronger numbers.

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 3:12pm

This makes me sad. One of my favorite songs in the show, wah waaahh

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 3:42pm

smaxie: that's what I was wondering too...

[candydog2]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 4:03pm

It is a little odd that they're cutting it so late in the run, but I suppose they had their chance to "test" it in the tour so carrying the change over to the Broadway production was going to happen sooner or later.

It wasn't a favourite of mine, but I love Brimestone and Treacle and sincerely hope they never get rid of it. Her performance may be cartoony as agreed by many on the boards, but I have to admit, for sheer vocal power on the final note Ashley Brown pretty much knocks it out of the park.

I'd give anything to go and see Kelly in the role though she really is THE Mary Poppins of the stage at least.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 7:58pm

I saw the tour last night and...yea the new song is kinda...doesn't make sense.

I'm very sad to see "Temper, Temper" go.

[clever name]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 8:32pm

Temper,Temper was one of my favorite numbers in the the show. I don't get it.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 8:45pm

Ugh.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 9:30pm

TEMPER, TEMPER WAS THE ONLY GOOD PART OF THE SHOW!!!!!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 10/12/09 at 9:32pm

Why don't they just throw the whole score out and be done with it already?

P

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 10/13/09 at 1:15am

"Playing the Game" is nonsensical song. The lyrics are something like this:

They're playing the game,
playing the game,
they're playing not fair.

Um....WHAT?! What GAME? It's never even specified.

The children are asleep for most of the song, waking up for 50 seconds to jump around and then say, "I hate Mary Poppins".

I don't believe the creators' reasoning for replacing "Temper, Temper", stating it gives a more clear view of the song's intent. I find this untrue, as the reasons for the songs' existence contrast significantly because it changes the reason for WHY Mary punishes the children. Instead of being punished for the terrible, disrespectful way they treat their mother (a scene that still exists), they are instead punished for fighting over the doll. How lame and utterly uninteresting.

Wow.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/13/09 at 1:07pm

Kind of ridiculous that they're doing this three years into the run, too...

[winston89]

Posted: 10/13/09 at 2:01pm

I didn't find Temper Temper to be that scary to begin with. I mean it is a far cry form a typical Disney tune but when I saw it it wasn't as scary as I thought it was. There weren't any kids scared or crying for that matter the few times that I have seen the show. I don't know why they changed it.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 10/13/09 at 4:07pm

I don't remember where I was when Kennedy was shot or when Watergate broke but I'll always remember where I was the day "Temper, Temper" was cut.

The Day the Music Died.

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 10/13/09 at 5:40pm

This is a real head-scratcher, if you ask me. "Temper, Temper" was one of the most talked about numbers in the musical. It even was praised by critics! So why replace it with a song that clearly isn't nearly as good? *scratches head*

[Kalimba]

Posted: 10/13/09 at 5:46pm

I would have cut the dull and insipid - "Being Mrs. Banks". I mean really lady, I could care less how you feel about being Mrs. Banks.