Did I tell you about the time I saw an Elephant in my pyjamas? (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - The Musical)

Member Name: cmh4135

Product:	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - The Musical
Date:	13/08/02 (733 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun for all ages

Disadvantages: Quite expensive and only one location!

There can be few people who at some time or another have not come across Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Whether as a book or the film (which was adapted from the book by Roald Dahl, produced by Broccoli with songs by the Sherman brothers) Chitty has been providing entertainment since the 1960s. Now, with the skilful hand of Sams who provided the stage adaptation and Noble’s direction, Chitty has been brought, in full flying glory, to the London Palladium.

I love musical theatre and, am a bit of a kid at heart and so it was with utter joy that booked tickets to go and see Chitty; and where better to see such a masterpiece than the London Palladium, surely one of London’s finest.

Just in case anyone has managed to escape the world that is Chitty I will fill you in on a few story basics. Essentially this is a children’s story about a magical car and the Potts family who own it. The story is as traditional as one would expect with the usual fight between good and evil and the hammering home of family values.

Caratacus Potts is father to twins, Jeremy and Jemima. They live with their father and grandfather, their mother having dies during childbirth. Caratacus is a penniless, eccentric inventor who would do anything for his children. He agrees to purchase a “magical car” for his children, little realising the full potential of Chitty and her amazing history. Jeremy and Jemima’s interest in the car is not unique, however. Baron Bomburst of Vulgaria has his eye on the car too and will try anything to get his hands on the vehicle. Little does he realise what he has let himself in for!

As we approached the theatre on our given night you could almost feel the anticipation in the air as young and old made their way into the auditorium for a face to face with a car. At first, making our way to our seats, my husband and I felt like frauds, not having the compulsory two children in tow. However
, as we surveyed the auditorium it would seem that we were not alone!

As the orchestra started up there was a momentary hush across the auditorium as people settled themselves in for two and a half hours of pure escapism. The silence didn’t last long though. As the familiar Chitty theme came to the fore of the overture the clapping commenced. This was a show that was going to be fun!

Curtain up. The show was underway.

The first set was dull and grey and the doubts as to the choice of performance started to creep in. The sound was flat and the acting trite – not what one would expect of an ex-RSC director and such an excellent cast and crew. The worry was unnecessary however. As the story started to unfurl one realised the reasoning behind the first scene and here the show began. (I’m certain that most in the audience would not have been able to tell you what the first scene was, it was that impressionless!)

After the lack-lustre start things just got better and better. The sets and the scenes were an engineers dream – working models of inventions which turned and hissed to the delight of everyone. Ward really went to town on this one and threw the audience into a world far removed from the bustle of the London Streets outside. The costumes complimented the sets and were both inspired and vivid in their creation.

The music is what made the original film for me and here we have a stage show that has adapted from the film very well. The songs are tried and tested and very memorable. Ranging from the rousing theme song to the lullaby Hushabye Mountain, the very danceable Me ‘Ol Bamboo to the infuriatingly catchy Toot Sweets, they are bound to leave you humming something for days. Gillian Lynne's imaginative choreography is simply spell-binding. This is not a show of which you could ever tire as there is just so much going on. The child in the audience who appears to be looking the wrong way i
s probably finding interest in the back corner of the stage!

You do not have a show, however, without a cast. Chitty is not one to scrimp here! Michael Ball would, absent the car, be the star of the show as Caratacus Potts. He is as affable as ever with a voice that could melt the coldest of hearts. His sympathetic portrayal of the loving father is perfect and I could think of no other better for the job. Emma Willams as Truly scrumptious is, in my opinion, a little weak, yet with a voice of an angel and somewhat of a smaller role than one would anticipate, she is adequate. Brian Blessed and Nichola McAuliffe are simply wonderful as the evil Baron Bomburst and his wife and there are some classic moments of humour between the two.

The Child Catcher is played by (a now very old) Richard O’Brien (of Rocky Horror fame). This portrayal was interesting. The Child Catcher was sinister without being frightening and the boos that ensued were more pantomime than fearful.

One could not review the show without mentioning the children. As with all child actors, the cast rotates and whilst the children who played Jeremy and Jemima were very good at the show we saw, I could not speak for them all. Finally, for me, the comic star of the show had to be Anton Rodgers as the grandfather. His frequent imagined trips to India and encounters with wild beasts in his pyjamas will stay with me forever!

The star of the show has to be Chitty, however! I cannot imagine many productions where the human cast is upstaged by a machine but Chitty is unique. The audience gasp audible as the car flys and it is so skilfully done that one cannot help but look on in awe as the car sweeps through the air! Chitty is the engineers nightmare and the child’s dream!

As a whole this is a show that will not disappoint. Everything combines to make a night that will be truly memorable. It is not just a show for the children, there being plenty of humour th
at, in an almost Disney-esque manner, will fly over the heads of the children but leave the adults chuckling quietly. Despite this, it is also a show that had the youngest of children spell bound for the duration. Audience participation in the form of clapping along, cheering and booing was high and actors running through the auditorium provided interest.

If a show could receive 11 out of 10 this one surely would.



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For those that are interested, the show plays daily at the Palladium with tickets priced from £10 (matinee) to £40. Tickets can be booked through Ticketmaster with a £1.50 booking fee per ticket.

It is worth seeing a plan of the theatre before you book your tickets as certain seats are poor value for money (particularly towards the back of the stalls (row T and back) where the Dress Circle obscures the top of the stage - and you do want to be able to see this, believe me!).

If you do want to see Michael Ball check www.chittythemusical.co.uk to see that you are not going to go on one of his few "off-days" (such as next Saturday when I am seeing him at Marble Hill!).

The theatre provides a limited number of booster cushions for young children so if you think you will need one it is worth getting there early.

Disabled access is available, although seat choice will be limited.

The usual range of drinks, sweets and promotional materials can be bought before the show and during the interval and, rather uniquely, you can get drinks in plastic cups to take into the auditorium.

Enjoy!

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