By: Suzanne Cleave
A magical flying car, the menacing Child Catcher and a well-known musical score – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the musical adaptation of Ian Fleming’s beloved tale, has landed at the Theatre Royal Plymouth and it really is truly scrumptious!
A mix of nostalgia, fun, magic and song – this production shows why it’s such a classic.
The story follows the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts and his children Jeremy and Jemima, as they restore an old race car, which turns out to be more than first meets the eye.
Alongside the charming Truly Scrumptious and their lovable Grandpa Potts, they embark on an unforgettable journey where they meet Baron and Baroness Bomburst, who are on a mission to get the car for themselves. They also encounter the nasty Child Catcher, who they must outwit in order to have their own happy ending.
The characters are a delight. Ore Oduba shines as Caractacus Potts, who does everything he can to raise the 30 schillings needed to buy the old car for his children. Ellie Nunn’s performance as Truly Scrumptious is top notch, and her voice is amazing.
The two young actors portraying Jeremy and Jemima – Huxley Syers and Melody Caruana – are central to the tale and they both gave a fantastic performance.
Baron and Baroness Bomburst, played by Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gayner, provide many comedy moments with their campness and over-the-top antics, and Charlie Brooks is menacing Child Catcher. When she sings Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies, it’s enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine!
The stand out stars for me were Boris and Goran, the helpless Vulgarian spies who are sent by Baron Bomburst to help capture the car. Played by Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph, they were hilarious the moment they stepped on stage.
It’s full of catchy songs like Toot Sweets, Truly Scrumptious and of course Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the set design is an explosion of colour.
The question on everyone’s lips – will Chitty actually fly? Of course it does, and it’s fantastically magical. You can hear the gasps as it rises to the skies.
If, like me, you’ve never seen the film, you are in for a treat, and if you’re already a fan of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you will love it.
It’s a show full of charm and magic – one not to be missed!