The Stage

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Published Monday 22 March 2010 at 12:20 by Mark Shenton

Eight years on from its world premiere at the London Palladium, this spectacular production is still flying high, in every sense. As this witty, lavish adaptation of the beloved 1968 film flies by once more as part of a national tour, it’s not difficult to work out why it’s such a crowd-pleasing success.

A scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at New Wimbledon Theatre Photo: Alastair Muir

While the movie looks dated nowadays, everything comes up as gleaming and glistening as the refurbished racing car of the title, and as fresh and funny as characters like Truly Scrumptious (which Katie Ray, playing her, is) and Baron Bomburst sound.

While musicals are often scaled down for touring, this delivers the no-expenses-spared experience of the London original, from a huge cast (more than 30 adults and 20 kids) to full live 15-strong orchestra and even a teeming pack of dogs. And then there’s the eye-popping spectacle of Anthony Ward’s sets, the star of which remains, of course, the car, that does indeed fly. Twice. And no, you can’t see how! In an instant, The Phantom of the Opera’s plummeting chandelier and Miss Saigon’s helicopter are erased from theatrical folklore.

But the great thing is that this show is about more than a piece of flying machinery. It’s a sweet, occasionally troubling story about the challenges of single-parent life and child kidnapping.

Darren Bennett, looking and sounding like a young Michael Crawford, is effortlessly charming as inveterate inventor Caractacus Potts, though he is outclassed in the glamour stakes by Chitty. Katie Ray brings freshness and vivacity to Truly Scrumptious; and a superbly drilled ensemble animate the supporting characters with fresh conviction.

It’s a show that delivers on every score, not least the perennially tuneful musical score of the Sherman Brothers that includes songs like Toot Sweets. You should see it tout de suite.