'Black Mary Poppins,' long beloved, returns with mystery solved in four versions

The acclaimed South Korean musical 'Black Mary Poppins,' which offers a psychological thriller take on the classic 'Mary Poppins,' is back with a unique presentation. This revival allows audiences to experience the mystery through four separate, yet interconnected, versions of the story.

Since its premiere in 2012, 'Black Mary Poppins' has captivated audiences through seven previous seasons. The current production, which opened on May 18 at the Link Art Center Bucks Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, presents an 'all-around version.' This approach involves subtle script variations to unfold a single incident from the differing viewpoints of each main character.

The narrative originates from a mysterious fire at the mansion of German psychologist Dr. Grazen Schwartz in 1926. Following the blaze, four siblings, Hans, Hermann, Jonas, and Anna, survived but lost their memories. Their governess, Mary Schmidt, vanished along with the truth. The musical delves into the fragmented memories of the siblings to reveal the tragic events.

Over its history, the musical has presented three distinct versions and a completed version. This latest season uniquely stages all versions sequentially, beginning with 'Hans Version: Defense for the Murder of Mary Poppins.' The production promises a deep dive into the characters' psyches and the unfolding mystery.