Originating from the pen of Ian Fleming (, he of James Bond fame) in 1964, and most famously adapted for the big screen in the 1968 MGM Picture starring the ingenious and indefatigable Dick Van Dyke, this timeless children’s classic has been cherished by generations of adoring fans around the world for decades since. It tells tale of widowed and woefully underrated eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, who restores an old car so that he can take his children Jeremy and Jemima on delightful days out. They soon discover that their car has magical powers, and along with their friend Truly Scrumptious, they find themselves whisked off to a magical fairytale land, far, far away, fighting for good over evil in what transpires to be quite the dystopian dukedom.
Greasing the wheels of the action (so to speak) is a score that will truly knock your socks off. Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman’s iconic songs from the movie are joined here by some additional and equally catchy numbers. From ‘Truly Scrumptious’ to ‘Toot Sweets’ via ‘Me ‘Ol Bamboo’ – every one of them a bona fide icon of the genre. Tonight’s excellent live orchestra under the direction of Jessica Viner are pitch perfect.
Set design by Morgan Large is simple but effective. Most of the scene changes involve the clever movement of crates to assist our imaginations of the various locations. One element that most definitely is not scrimped on is the car itself – my goodness me what a beauty! Surely the only prop in musical theatre to get its own round of applause on entrance. She flies, soars, rotates and veers all the while eliciting delighted coos from her adoring audience. I am literally speechless watching, and it is clear to me that there is only room for one star in this show – our fine four-fendered friend. Ben Cracknell’s superb lighting really sets off the car’s colours and the stage positively glows with glee as Chitty does her acrobatic thing. I may need to take a moment.
The human cast are not too shabby either. Adam Garcia, a master of musical theatre, makes for a very sweet and loveable Caractacus Potts. He has the necessary goofy charm to pull off the eccentricity and all the moves to impress too – especially in the scene stealing dance routines of ‘Me Ole Bamboo’. His relationship and interaction with the child performers Roshan Thomson (Jeremy) and Gracie Cochrane (Jemima) has authenticity and oozes warmth. These young actors are superstars. What a charming family they make.
Ellie Nunn delivers a masterclass of a performance in the iconic role of Truly Scrumptious. She brings all the elegance and style to the piece, as well as lots and lots of heart. She performs ‘Doll On A Music Box’ alongside Garcia with such incredible precision of movement and voice – I have no idea how she does that!
Liam Fox as Grandpa Potts gets all the best numbers – ‘P.O.S.H’ and ‘The Roses of Success’ are both delivered with relish and just a hint of a nod to the late great Lionel Jeffries who made the iconic role his own in the original movie.
Standout performances come in abundance from Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gayner as the baddie Baron and Baroness Bombhurst of Vulgaria – they bring all the comic relief with their garish costumes and ‘Chu-Chi Face’ routine. Gayner’s spectacular rendition of ‘The Bombie Samba’ is a sight to behold! Their incompetent spies Boris (Adam Stafford) and Goran (Michael Joseph) are played with delightful pantomime-esque movement and out to the house asides. I adore every one of their appearances.
Doing Sir Robert Helpmann proud tonight, playing a character that was the stuff of nightmares for many a generation, is Callum Train as the Childcatcher. With a suitably evil cackle and sinister movements, there is the perfect blend of terror and campy hauteur in this iteration. I adore it. A beautiful performance offered as a fitting tribute to the late The Vivienne who was due to perform here this evening.
I really love that the production has used local children to populate the prison sewer of Vulgaria – they are from the Northern Prep Squad and they are every bit professional. Stellar performances all round. Their rendering of ‘Teamwork’ was full of power and emotion. Hats off to them.
So, what do I think? A first rate cast take us on a phantasmagorical adventure fit for all the family. What’s not to love? Go and see it – you’ll be whistling the tunes all the way home. Honest, truly, you will.
