Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – New Theatre, Oxford

Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Adaptor: Jeremy Sams

National Tour Adapter: Ray Roderick

Choreographer: David Morgan

Director: Adrian Noble

Reviewer: Rebecca Moore

Child Catcher Chitty Tour “He’s behind you!” came the cry from an over eager child on the upper circle and I had to check for a moment that the Child Catcher wasn’t in fact among the audience ready to hiss ‘This isn’t Pantomime!’ before throwing the offending child into his cage. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang may not be pantomime but it does take from it a great attribute; it encourages the audience to take part, for families to come together and tap their feet to the music and laugh.

The much loved 1968 musical motion picture of the same name had its world premiere in the West End in 2002 and has been a favourite for theatregoers since. This national tour has been adapted necessarily somewhat from the original but has lost little of its Bang Bang, thanks largely to the direction of Adrian Noble and to the liveliness of its sets and costumes.

The stage show remains happily faithful to the film, telling the story of Caractacus Potts (a delightfully warm Darren Bennett) a widowed father to his children. He is a dreamer and inventor who believes in ‘Teamwork’ and that anything is possible. Which is just as well really, for when the Vulgarian Baron (an impressive Edward Peel) hears of the reputation of the Potts’ car, Chitty, he decides he must own it at any cost. The best Vulgarian spies (a comic duo perfectly played by Nigel Garton and Richard Ashton, so much fun that I looked for them in every scene) are sent to recover it and inadvertently kidnap Grandpa Potts (John Griffiths) instead.

Luckily, the beautifully restored Chitty can fly and the climatic moment when the car lifts from the stage to follow the Spies is spellbinding. Who can blame the Potts for being reluctant to hand over such a car? Truly Scrumptious (played by the vocally impressive Katie Ray) joins the rescue team as they head off to Vulgaria to save Grandpa Potts.

Special attention must be paid to Anthony Ward who as set and costume designer brings the stage to life – transporting us from a junkyard to the seaside, from the sewers to the Vulgarian Grand Hall with ease and his costumes are vibrant and appropriately flamboyant. Also the orchestra, led by Adrian Kirk reawakens the familiar theme tune and other well-known songs delivering them cleanly and boldly. The only slight problem being the sound – a few voices were sometimes lost which seemed due to a low mic level. Luckily the orchestral music was special enough in itself to enjoy.

All singing is pitch perfect and delivered with real verve and the entire cast are excellent – in particular Kim Ismay as Baroness Bomburst who has great comic timing and the interchanges between her and the Baron certainly offer enough adult-friendly jokes which will eagerly fly over the childrens’ head. The Child Catcher is played by Dean Maynard who despite very little stage time manages to maintain an intimidating presence throughout. Toot Sweets - Chitty Tour

The dogs trained and supplied by Sallyann and Ionuts Roncescu should be given special mention as each time they skidded across the stage every child (myself included) let out a little squeal of delight.

This is a true family affair, the music inviting everyone to clap along, something which began immediately and continued throughout so that by the the closing scene when the full ensemble are onstage and waving, the audience are waving back. Of course, we are each secretly hoping that the real star of the show, Chitty, will zoom across the auditorium and whisk us all off to Hushabye Mountain.