Teamwork Makes The Dreams Come True
Starlight Theatre Productions present:
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Until Saturday 24th November
2018
The amazing flying car won over the Tyne Theatre crowd as
it flew into Tyneside for the first time in an amateur production. A strong
cast deliver the classic magical tale with real enthusiasm. This is a real family
treat.
Before setting off I was thinking – how long ago was it
when I last saw the film? It must be at least 3 decades or more. Yet, at the
time it was a regular on a wet Saturday afternoon on BBC 2. This musical is
based upon the 1968 British film Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang, directed by Ken Hughes, starring Dick Van Dyke and Sally
Ann Howes, and written by Roald Dahl and Hughes. It was loosely based on Ian
Fleming's 1964 novel Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang:
The Magical Car. The musical numbers were
written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman of Jungle Book and Mary
Poppins fame.
The musical sticks to the film, as I remember it rather
than the original novel, and it retains the music
and lyrics written by Richard and Robert Sherman with a script by Jeremy Sams.
The story begins with a sad looking Chitty in the middle of
Mr Coggins (Alan Tomkins) yard. It may have been the winner of the 1910 British
Gran Prix but now it is a wreck being used as a plaything by Jeremy (Mac Toal) and
Jemima (Katie Ellis). They use their imagination to suggest the car can still
win races, as long as you’re polite to it and say please. Truly (Kim Wilde),
the daughter of a local businessman, pulls up with her motorbike that needs attention
and she gets talking to the children’s father Caractacus (Ian Cairns). As the
bike is getting fixed, a scrapman (Andy Oliver) offers to buy Chitty for scrap.
The children are saddened by this news so Mr Coggins says he’ll sell it to
their father to fix up if he can match the scrapman’s evaluation. The only snag
is that their Dad is struggling for money as none of inventions have been that
successful. Fortunately his luck changes and the adventures with Chitty continue.
Meanwhile, over in Vulgaria, the Baroness (Katie Howes) is
trying to get the Baron (Andrew Fearon) a present for his birthday. He wants
Chitty as he remembers it winning races so Doris (Melanie King) and Goran
(David Rawlings) are sent to locate and acquire it.
Director Bryan Watson has the show skipping along at a
decent pace throughout. The 2 ½ hours (plus interval) quickly pass by in a
blaze of colour thanks to the high quality set and costumes. As panto season approaches,
parallels can be draw and this show has similar high production values that are
comparable to the more expensive pantos that will be in town soon.
Choreographer Jenn Rouse has done a fine job building in
some dance routines that fit the big production numbers. The numbers are accompanied by a 12 piece orchestra
under the capable Andrew Soulsby. They didn’t put a foot wrong as they filled
the Opera House with a wonderful sound of those Sherman & Sherman songs.
But in addition to the big ensemble pieces, like Toot Sweets, Teamwork and the eponymous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, are a number of
great spots involving soloists and smaller groups. Starting with You Two with the ever delightful Ian
Cairns, Mac Toal and Katie Ellis; Alan Davison with Them Three and continuing with Ian again on Hushabye Mountain, it is obvious that this show has a capable cast.
The show has the lighter moments for both younger and older
members of the audience. The Royal Family, the Toolmaker (Alan Tomkins) and
Grandpa (Alan Davison) add the light side to the tale whilst the Childcatcher
(Andy Oliver) summons the inner-Fleshcreep to court a reaction from the
audience. Gauging by the reaction at the very end, Andy had hit the right spot
with the younger members of the audience.
Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang is a very pleasant magical musical adventure
that entertains the family. The car literally takes off above the dry ice and
raises this show above other amateur shows. The talented cast and crew pull off
a charming evening’s entertainment.
Review by Stephen Oliver.
Tickets:
Tickets are from
£16.50 and are available direct from the theatre Box office.
Tickets are also
available online from our affiliate Eventim UK Tickets: http://bit.ly/CCBBatTyne.
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