Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a Children’s story (written by Ian Fleming for his son) in which a car magically gains the ability to read thoughts and, in extremesis, suddenly learns to float and fly in order to avoid the grasping machinations of the toy loving, Baron of Vulgaria. Vulgaria is a kind of dark, inverted Neverland, where the Baron never grows up and the children are kept out of sight in a troglodyte, slave-like existence beneath the castle. Chief nasty in this scheme is the Childcatcher (Jos Vantyler) who prances menacingly around the kingdom with a bag of sweets at the behest of the Baroness who cannot stand the sight of the little darlings.
Hanging off this Dahl-like story is a sentimental sub-plot about the loveless life of inventor and widower, Caractacus Potts (Jason Manford), whose children are keen to get him set up with a surrogate mum in the shape of Truly Scrumptious (another Fleming named female along lines of Pussy Galore and Kissy Suzuki).
The show boasts some great tunes by the Sherman brothers, varying from the jaunty, Me Ol’ Bamboo which lends itself to the Oliver! inspired, cockney barrow boy style of dance, all elbows and knees, which choreographer, Stephen Mear adapts very successfully in one of the show’s standout numbers, to the more balletic, Toot Sweets. Into the mix for no apparently good reason is The Bombie Samba which if nothing else allows Claire Sweeney as the Baroness to flaunt her stuff in a show-stopping comedy dance number.
Phil Jupitus as Baron Bomburst/Lord Scrumptious travels his own trajectory, always looking for a laugh and having some fun into the bargain. Charlotte Wakefield’s Truly is a peart, forthright creation with just the right note of sentimentality in the solo number, Lovely Lonely Man. The two Potts children, Finn Richards and Emma Jane Shorrock, both deserve a mention for their professionalism and engaging performances, which are by no means in the shadow of the experienced members of the cast.
Sadly, last night the show suffered the curse of highly technical shows and the car failed to spread its wings. It did nevertheless manage to fly against some clever video projections, which brought a welcome new dimension to the production.
This is a colourful, all singing all dancing show that boasts a great set and some fine technical wizardry all in the service of a child friendly story, entertaining dance numbers and memorable songs. ★★★☆☆ Graham Wyles 26th January 2017
