Written by Ian Fleming, and adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a wonderful adaption of the film, giving it a new lease of life with a fresh, contemporary feel.
The auditorium was filled with excitement on Tuesday, November 5, for the opening night of the musical at Curve Theatre. The opening scenes take the audience to the Grand Prix with a strong cast promising an excellent show right from the start.
The musical tells the story of what happened to the magical car after it ended up at a scrapyard following a crash at the aforementioned races. Young Jemima and Jeremy have bunked off school and are playing in the broken down car when they first meet Truly Scrumptious. She ends up falling for their widowed father, Caractacus Potts, an inventor, who, with the help of the children, transforms the car and names it Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Adam Garcia (Wicked, Kiss Me Kate, Coyote Ugley) is perfectly cast in the role of eccentric Caractacus Potts, as if it was made for him. One of my favourite scenes – of which there were many – was watching him dance with the ensemble in Me O’ Bamboo. The choreography for this, and indeed, the whole performance, really stands out and enriches the show.
Ellie Nunn, who plays Truly Scrumptious is brilliantly cast, you can’t help but warm to her the moment she steps on stage. The role has evolved since the film was first produced back in the 60s, but Nunn still gets to sing her namesake song which she delivers to perfection.
Young Jemima Potts was played on the night by a very confident young triple threat Gracie Cochrane who shone in the role. Jeremy Potts was played by 11 year old Roshan Thomson who was making his professional debut in the show. His vocals really stood out in the role and he definitely had the cute factor.
The Baron of Vulgaria (Martin Callaghan) sets the villainous comedy duo, Boris and Goran (Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph) out to steal the wondrous invention, but when they can’t get their hands on it, they attempt to kidnap the inventor instead. But instead of kidnapping Caractacus, they kidnap Grandpa Potts, played by Liam Fox (Emmerdale).
Stafford and Joseph are hilarious, their comedy timing is spot on and I found myself laughing at every slapstick event they created, which they managed to make look completely effortless.
The Baron and his wife the Baroness, (Jenny Gayner) also steal the stage with their rendition of Chu-Chi Face – what a performance! The Childcatcher, payed by The Vivienne (Drag Race UK winner, Dancing on Ice, The Wizard of OZ) is also exceptional, her make-up and costume for the role giving her villainous demeanour the edge.
The costumes in this production really set the scene, reflecting the original, but also managing to give the musical a contemporary theme at the same time. The set wasn’t just impressive, it really went beyond that and the real star of the show was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you really do have to see it to believe it flying across the night sky with the stars twinkling, giving the whole show a magical feel.
Each one of the characters shone in their own right and the musical gives a sense of pure escapism into a world of magic and wonder.
★★★★★
Ticket prices £10-£77.50
Limited tickets available
ACCESS PERFORMANCES
British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted: Thursday, November 7, 2pm
Captioned: Thursday, November 7, 7pm
Audio Described: Saturday, November 9, 2pm with Touch Tour from 12.30pm
