Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Just in time for the school, holidays Northern Light Theatre Company are presenting that ‘child catcher’ of a musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Loosely based on the book by Ian Fleming, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang became a film in 1968 starring such luminaries as Dick Van Dyke, Lionel Jeffries and of course the legendary Sir Robert Helpmann as the Child Catcher.

Although the story has many twists and turns, it centres on Caractacus Potts, his children and Grandpa as they rebuild an old car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, so named because of the sound she makes. Together they float and fly in her through many adventures including, of course, Caractacus falling in love.

The film version is iconic, with many special effects that all have to be transferred to the stage. Amateur musicals do not have the big budget to reproduce these effects with the same impact. Thanks to the director Gordon Combes and talented set and prop builders, Northern Light comes up trumps. They have produced some clever effects considering the budget available.

Combes has created a true fantasy land with a cast of almost 50. He has produced well-developed characters, pace that does not lag and that nice warm fuzzy feeling that we should have at the end of a family musical.

Add to this the talent of Paul Sinkinson as Musical Director, leading a tight orchestra through a score featuring some complicated dance music, and one of the busiest choreographers in Adelaide, Sue Pole, who creates extended dance numbers that encompass all performers whether they are experienced dancers or not.

The non-human star of the show is of course the car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and she does not disappoint. Last seen in the Pelican Productions’ version, she rises into the air, lights up, inflates to go on the water and sprouts wings to fly. Moving a large prop like this is a technical nightmare and although there were a few moments we saw her ‘helpers’, this should sort itself out during the run.

This cast has eleven principals, so unfortunately, I cannot highlight them all in this review. I will begin with the performer that is the ‘glue’ that holds the show together, Andrew Crispe as Caractacus Potts. He gives us real warmth between a father and his children, a relationship that develops with Truly Scrumptious and a powerful velvety voice that rises above the cast in a genuine performance.

Kate Hodges’ Truly Scrumptious has a speaking voice that channels Dame Julie Andrews and, like Crispe, a real affinity with the two children. She makes the perfect love interest for Caractacus.

Russell Ford’s Grandpa Potts is suitably eccentric and lovable. His number The Roses of Success with the Inventors earned a well-deserved round of applause.

Harry Ince and Holly Abbott are delightful as the Potts’ children. These are very large roles and they do not miss a beat, complementing each other. You can easily believe they are brother and sister.

Gavin Cianci’s Baron Bomburst is cute, cuddly and petulant. He has a real affinity with the audience with ad libs that keep adults in stitches. Georgia Stockham’s Baroness Bomburst does not hold back as the child hating mate to the Baron. She is not a woman to be messed with. The duet between these two, Chu-Chi Face, was a standout.

Tom Adam’s Boris and Gary Humphries’ Goran, the two spies, kept the show rolling with their comedy antics. Reminding me of the late Morcombe and Wise, their number Act English is a triumph.

There are a number of minor principals who all give consistent performances plus the adult and youth chorus who provide the colour and glitz of the show. Hard working and with a myriad of impressive costumes, they change characters at the drop of a hat. I particularly enjoyed their ‘walking backwards’ scene to give the illusion Chitty was going forwards.

At the start of the show uneven miking resulted in the two Pott’s children not being heard clearly, but this was soon corrected. My only reservation was the constantly changing brightly coloured lighting that caused the principals to often be in the darker areas of the stage.

But this did not prevent me enjoying this family friendly show that goes like a rocket, or should a say like a flying car?

Barry Hill