Photo by Michael Dare.
Premiering as a stage musical in 2002 and based on the 1968 screenplay by Ken Hughes and children’s author Roald Dahl (moreso than Bond scribe Ian Fleming’s 1964 novel of the same name), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tells the story of children Jeremy and Jemima Potts (Jayden McGinlay and Emma Cobb) – obsessed with a formerly great race car that sits broken in a junkyard.
With the car set to be sold for parts, the children plead with their father, eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (David Hobson) to purchase it instead. Short of the asking price, and with bumbling spies Goran and Boris (George Kapiniaris and Todd Godard) from far-off Vulgaria desperately seeking the car for their own Baron and Baroness (Shane Bourne and Jennifer Vuletic), Caractacus must somehow raise the funds before it’s too late. Along the way he meets the confident and comically-named Truly Scrumptious (Rachael Beck) and attempts to sell a whistling lollipop invention to Truly’s candy tycoon father (Tony Farrell) in the charming ‘Toot Sweets’ (the surprise end of which has children and adults alike screaming in their seats). Eventually Caractacus gets lucky selling an invention, managing to buy and restore the car, nicknamed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But when spies mistakenly kidnap Grandpa Potts (Frank Garfield), Caractacus, Truly and the children must travel to Vulgaria to find him…and finally, Chitty Chitty’s true talent is unveiled.
David Hobson’s Caractacus is more posh than playful, however it doesn’t hinder his success in the show’s more tender moments – turning ‘Hushabye Mountain’ into a most-operatic lullaby for instance. Beck’s pleasant Truly becomes an appropriately motherly presence around the children, who thankfully avoid the precocious child actor mould. Of the supporting cast, it’s Kapiniaris’ Goran who, at any point, could walk away with this show – though Jennifer Vuletic’s tantrum-prone Baroness and Shane Bourne’s boyish Baron are both gleefully guilty of scene theft.
Under the detailed direction of Roger Hodgman, Chitty Chitty is highly-dependent on technology, but it all goes off without a hitch. That first time the car sails into a starry night sky draws rapturous applause and appeals to the inner-child in all. Designer Anthony Ward admits the success of the car brings him the greatest joy, though his amusing set pieces and tailored and dashing storybook costumes should bring him pride also.
The problem lies not in this production, but the story itself – more confected than a Scrumptious-branded treat, this show is diabetes-enabling. Any scrap of Dahl’s wicked wit is barely traceable and any darkness in the story comes midway through the second act, arriving late and leaving early. In creating a ‘family friendly’ experience, the writers forgot that kids want boundaries pushed too – not in the few adult jokes likely to soar over their heads, but something more daring thematically. While both musicals have the songwriting Sherman brothers in common, Chitty Chitty plods along like Mary Poppins’ naive, homeschooled cousin.
Still, with Christmas fast approaching, count your blessings this is a fully-staged show and not a half-hearted touring UK panto starring Neighbours’ Dr Karl as Aladdin. Chitty Chitty is slick if dull, showy if slow and drags out enough stage trickery to be a decent introduction for children to the true magic of musical theatre.
Rating: Three Stars out of Five.
Tim Lawson and Queensland Performing Arts Centre presents
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Adapted for the Stage by Jeremy Sams and Ray Roderick
Directed by Roger Hodgman
Scenic and Costume Designer: Anthony Ward
Lighting Designer: Matt Scott
Musical Director/Conductor: Peter Casey
Sound Designer: Kelvin Gedye
Choreographer: Dana Jolly
Cast includes: David Hobson, Rachael Beck, Shane Bourne, Jennifer Vuletic, Frank Garfield, Tyler Coppin, George Kapiniaris, Todd Goddard, Tony Farrell, Jayden McGinlay and Emma Cobb.
Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
November 19 – December 22, 2013.
For tickets call 136 246 or purchase online via qpac.com.au
