Based on the Ian Fleming novel and remodelled after the 1968 film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the live musical has been stripped almost beyond recognition.
We follow the Potts family of four whose aim to restore a broken racing car sees them bumping into royalty, avoiding a Child Catcher and flying off to the land of Vulgaria. Understandably, much of the colour and magic you remember from the original film cannot be replicated on stage but director, Thom Southerland has given Chitty Bang the complete pantomime treatment, where the new production now lacks the basic scenery for a show this hugely popular.
Caractacus Potts (Ore Oduba) and his children Jemima (Lara Simon) and Jeremy (Charlie Banks) hold down the first act with sweetly sung hits, including Toot Sweets and Hushabye Mountain, until the show slowly begins to be taken over by its Vulgarian baddies. The characters Boris and Goran’s campy, old-school comedy appears to be put in place to kill time between songs, allowing for some scene changes. However, it was quickly discovered that the show has next to no scenery to change and many of the hit songs were shortened to fit more comedy of errors.
Distilled to its bare bones, Chitty Bang has been scaled down for a younger audience, adding in miniature models and bulking out the surroundings of the fair, sweet factory and castle with the ensemble doubling as the props. The show is an easy ride for kids who are bound to enjoy the puppetry and ultimate reveal of the classic car. But Chitty Bang may become a bit of a slog for the adults in the room as the lacklustre production is held together with three storage boxes that are Ikea assembled into every scene. Forming the tables, beds, the Scrumptious factory and used as hiding spots, it looks like Caractacus sold the entire set to pay for the car. Even the infamous Child Catcher doesn’t hold any sweets despite having an entirely new song dedicated to the cause.
Despite the Sherman Brothers packing the two-hour 25-minute film full of classic songs including Doll on a Music Box, Me Ol’ Bamboo, Truly Scrumptious, The Roses of Success and the Academy Award-nominated title song, many of the second act performances feel rushed and are actually cut short to focus on the adorable Chu-Chu faces running Vulgaria. The lesser-known Bombie Samba and forgettable Child Catcher’s solo do make great use of the enjoyable cast, but the show chooses not to give its classic moments their best treatment with so little care given to anything other than the car. Fortunately, the cast carries the second act of the show with their personalities alone, allowing Martin Callahan (Baron) and Jenny Gayner (Baroness) time to shine as the leaders of their childless nation and the talented Eastenders alumni Charlie Brooks (The Child Catcher) moments to relish in her villainous role.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a straightforward children’s story made memorable for its unforgettably catchy score and fantastic visuals. Unfortunately, this bare-bones production overpacked with secondary characters feels empty and lacks the simple nostalgia trip demanded of the classic.