When the stage version of "Mary Poppins" had its premiere in London in 2004, Laura Michelle Kelly had the title role and the penultimate number in Act One was "Temper, Temper." When "Mary Poppins" opened on Broadway in 2006, "Temper, Temper" was heard in revised form. In 2009, "Temper, Temper" was permanently replaced by "Playing the Game." Laura Michelle Kelly did not open the Broadway production, but she eventually joined the New York cast in late 2009. This gave the original stage Mary her chance to perform the new song, "Playing the Game," with the company. "Temper, Temper" and "Playing the Game" were written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and were among the new songs added for the stage production to the immortal originals by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman. "Playing the Game" lyrics below:
Playing the game, taking your turn
Some children lose, some children learn
Treat the toys nicely and
Maybe they'll treat you the same
Playing the game.
Are you feeling any better, Valentine?
Much better, thank you.
Tempers are frayed
Tempers are lost
Nobody stops to think of the cost
But they tore my arm! Again!
Oh dear, Children who lose their temper will lose everything else in the end
They're not playing the game, not playing fair
Not with the doll, nor with the bear
Thrown on the floor and neglected
And they were to blame!
Playing the game
Please tell them Mary Poppins
Why don't you tell them?
What's going on? What's happened to all the toys?!
Make them grow small and get back in their box!
Why? You've hurt them and called them names
Now it's their turn
Summon the toys
Now is the time
To tell of your woes
To tell of their crime
(Crime!)
(Crime!)
Come one, come all
Enter the fray
They need to hear
What you have to say!
Those girls and boys
Who treat us this way
Don't deserve fun
So why should we stay?
They stamp and shout
Create such a fuss
They need to learn
The value of us!
Well?
You think you know everything!
I couldn't agree more. Jane?
They're our toys and we'll do what we like with them, so there!
So there, indeed.
Playing the game, having a ball
Those who won't play, shan't play at all
Will we meet again?
Maybe when they've learned to play
The game.
