Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Music & Lyrics: Richard & Robert Sherman. Book: Jeremy Sams & Ray Roderick. Tim Lawson Production. Director: Roger Hodgman. Musical Director: Peter Casey. Choreographer: Dana Jolly. Lyric Theatre, QPAC. 21 November, 2013.

After playing seasons in other capital cities, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car finally flew into Brisbane. And what a gob-smacking arrival it was. The $1 million prop auto, which not only floated on water but flew around the stage, was the undoubted star of the show. What hope did a mere actor have when this magnificent piece of machinery took flight? It was an astounding effect. But that was the only astounding effect in this generic family musical by the Sherman Brothers.

Decidedly several rungs below their work on Mary Poppins they augmented their original film score with six new songs. The catchy title song was still the best but the tender “Hushabye Mountain” gave star David Hobson a chance to display his impressive pipes. His character Caractacus Potts could have done with a touch more eccentricity but there was no doubting his ability in the dance department particularly his work in “Me Ol’ Bamboo”.

Playing opposite him as Truly Scrumptious was Rachel Beck. She added a feistiness to an otherwise saccharine ingénue, and was vocally effective on “Lovely, Lonely Man,” and her duet with Hobson “Doll On A Music Box”.

Shane Bourne and Jennifer Vuletic were great fun as the Baron and Baroness determined to rid their country Vulgaria of children, and came into their own in the second act with the impossibly cute “Chu-Chi Face,” and the Latin “The Bombie Samba.” George Kapiniaris and Todd Goddard were a couple of funny vaudevillian spies, Tyler Coppin was the personification of evil as the Child-Catcher, while Frank Garfield made the grandfather irascible and dotty. Caractacas’ children, Jeremy and Jemima were at this performance played by Jayden McGinlay and Emma Cobb. They added warmth to their characters that was noticeable absent from the script.

Dana Jolly’s choreographic routines had a spark of invention, whilst Peter Casey led the orchestra at breakneck speed, barely giving the actors time to breathe. In reality Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a very ordinary musical with serviceable songs and a by-the-numbers book, but it did have that car. Who cares if you came out whistling the effect, it was awe-inspiring.

Peter Pinne

Photographer: Michael Dare

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