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PL Travers, the Australian author of Mary Poppins, was said to have clashed with Walt Disney over his 1964 film.
He is reported to have told her she was arrogant thinking she knew more about her character than he did.
She'd probably be rolling in her grave over the stage show.
Not because it's not a great night's entertainment but perhaps because of its depiction of the Banks family politics, the sugary sweet nature of the message and the still not-quite-acerbic-enough Mary Poppins herself. Perhaps a few too many spoonfuls of sugar?
While the film took the era of the book back to pre-World War 1 and turned Mrs Banks into a suffragette, the musical has her as a former actor who has given up her job for the sake of marriage and family.
Mr Banks is still a bank worker but one who - in this post-GFC world - turns down a large loan for a dubious German investor.
The message, which could have been written by Family First, is so unsubtle it feels like you've been hit over the head with a parrot-headed umbrella.
The producers say the play is about the power of family and about having someone to depend on in your life.
Some have compared Mary Poppins to the Good Fairy we're all looking for.
