Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Newcastle Theatre Royal

Director: Thom Southerland

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

When Richard Sherman passed away at the age of 95 late last month, several obituaries credited him with writing songs for Disney films including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, although he did indeed create the songs along with his brother Robert, the incorrect categorizing of Chitty as Disney is understandable. By 1968, the Sherman brothers were well established as the in-house writers at Disney, and along with the casting of Dick Van Dyke, Chitty was clearly aiming to be a spiritual sequel to Mary Poppins. While it wasn’t as critically or financially successful as Poppins, it has still firmly established itself as perfect Bank Holiday afternoon film for all the family. And having debuted in 2002, this stage adaptation has been equally embraced by young and old throughout its various productions. This is Chitty’s fourth UK tour, so does this production retain the necessary magic to keep fuel in the tank? Well, up to a point, yes.

It’s Edwardian England, and single father and unsuccessful inventor Caractacus Potts (a strong all-round performance from Adam Garcia) buys a clapped out old car at the behest of his two children Jeremy and Jemima (Ayrton English and Jasmine Nyenya for this performance). Of course the car is the titular Chitty, a sentient machine with the hidden ability to both float and fly, and along with Truly Scrumptious (a wonderfully sincere Ellie Nunn), they travel to the dictatorship of Vulgaria to rescue the accidentally kidnapped Grandpa Potts (Liam Fox) from the clutches of the nefarious Baron and Baroness Bomburst (Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gaynor). Keeping very close to the plot of the film, the stage adaptation has various digressions from the main plot to allow for set pieces and fun songs, whether it’s a trip to a funfair or a full-scale showstopping samba number. Consequently the show (and the film) feels a little flabby and unfocussed in places, although while some of these detours feel incongruous, they are always gloriously entertaining.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a big show – or at least is written to be. This production cuts a lot of the frills down as far as scenery and effects are concerned, and although we still get a very impressive “flying” car, for the most part the action takes place on a bare stage with minimal furniture and a series of large wooden boxes being moved around to create different levels. This only works part of the time and although minimal staging is common in a lot of theatre these days (particularly with tours), it does fell like this show isn’t a suitable candidate for such treatment. Even relatively simple things are referred to but physically absent. These include the wreaked Chitty in the early scenes (here represented by a seat and a steering wheel), the Baron’s car that the scientists are working on (here one of the aforementioned wooden boxes), and the complete absence of The Childcatcher’s iconic wagon/cage. The latter leaves the biggest hole and greatly lessens the impact of the character despite Eastenders’ Charlie Brooks working hard in the role. Unfortunately, these (and many other smaller things) come across not as creative but as budgetary choices, and it’s difficult not to feel a little short changed by them.

That all said, there is still much to enjoy in this production. Garcia is a charming lead, Nunn has a beautiful voice, the children are all very good, and while Fox never seems comfortable or suited to his role of Grandpa, the villains run in and steal the show. Callaghan and Gaynor make a brilliantly comic couple as the Baron and Baroness, his facial expressions and vocal ticks perfectly complimented by her energetic physicality, and the Vulgarian spies Boris and Goran (Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph) are firm audience favourites thanks to their silly antics and easy chemistry.

There are two real standout stars in this production: Chitty herself, and the Sherman brothers’ songs. Chitty is beautifully built and dazzles with her chrome accents and flashing headlights. Her movements are fluid and although her travelling scenes would have greatly benefitted from some back projections, she nevertheless completely lives up to expectations. Meanwhile, the songs as presented here are really allowed to shine. Poppins may be more famous and widely-known, but arguably Chitty may contain some of the Shermans’ most beautiful tunes and clever lyrics. Hushabye Mountain is a gorgeous lullaby, and the likes of Toot Sweets, Chu-Chi Face and Me Ol’ Bamboo see Richard and Robert at their most lyrically playful.

While on a smaller scale than the piece deserves to be, this production still manages to be gloriously entertaining and fun. Just like those famous toot sweets, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a delicious musical confection with a sweet centre that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Runs until 8th June 2024