Music & Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Stage Adaption: Jeremy Sams
Based on the book by Ian Fleming and the MGM Motion Picture
It is a piece of beloved nostalgia for many generations of adults, but how does this stage adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fare with an audience of 21st century children? Well it’s a bit hard to tell as the auditorium is packed full of adults of a certain age.
There’s no denying that the storyline is all a bit of a fever dream, and this stage version even more so as it takes elements of Ian Fleming’s 1964 novel, the 1968 MGM movie and the 2002 original stage adaptation.
Less than successful inventor Caractacus Potts (Adam Garcia), his children Jemima and Jeremy, and Potts by name, potty by nature, ex-soldier Grandpa (Liam Fox) are the happy, but down on their luck family at the centre of the tale.
When Caractacus can’t pass up the chance to save a once-legendary race car from the scrapheap, a whole world of adventure opens up. Into their lives comes the glorious Truly Scrumptious (Ellie Nunn), the daughter of the local confectionary bigwig and a host of eccentric individuals from the aptly named dictatorship of Vulgaria whose ruler believes Chitty has magical powers that can save his homeland (all a bit off the wall – I know). When Grandpa is kidnapped by mistake, it falls to Chitty to save the day.
There’s no way round it, but this is most definitely a scaled down production, the budget has clearly been spent on the magnificent flying car, which has the most expansive range of movement any production has seen and brings the requisite magic to the titular vehicle. The backdrops are almost universally simplistic and large boxes are utilised to represent almost all locations and props. While there’s still plenty of verve in the production, it does lack a little sparkle and magic. Save for the Bombie Samba scene which injects some much needed colour. The Childcatcher is now female, played on this leg of the tour by Elaine C. Smith, and more pantomime than the truly terrifying one of the movie. The famous rolling cage to trap the children is also missing.
Fans will be delighted to know that while many elements have been trimmed back or watered down, the music remains intact. The Sherman Brothers’ soundtrack includes perennial favourites, Me Ol’ Bam Boo, Truly Scrumptious, The Roses of Success and the beautiful Hushabye Mountain, as well as the rousing title song.
The cast are universally solid – led by Adam Garcia, who gets a chance to show off his dancing chops and Ellie Nunn is a delightful Truly Scrumptious, though there’s not much space in the script to develop any chemistry between the pair.
Vulgarian spies Goran (Michael Joseph) and Boris (Adam Stafford) and Baron (Martin Callaghan) and Baroness (Jenny Gaynor) provide the farcical comedy and the colour the production needs.
There’s a quality cast, a truly bonkers story and those wonderful Sherman Brothers songs to enjoy. Overall Chitty still has the power to delight.
Runs until 31 August 2024 | Image: Contributed
The Reviews Hub Score
Still has the power to delight
