CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG: A Fantasmagorical, Fine, Four-Fendered Musical

I had no experience with the stage musical production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG prior to seeing its recent national tour stop at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, aside from humming the familiar melody of the title song randomly through the years. For some reason, oddly enough, musical-obsessed me had not even seen the 1968 MGM motion picture this adaptation was based on, despite owning the beautifully-packaged Special Edition DVD.

I did however know a bit of its history. The stage musical features an iconic score from the legendary team of Richard and Robert Sherman (stalwart composers for Walt Disney's stable, where they created their masterpiece Mary Poppins). Like the feature film, it is based on the children's novel by Ian Fleming, himself a legend for creating James Bond. The fact that the same author could produce the outlandish characters in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG as well as the world's most famous super spy is enough of a curiosity.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG originally opened in London in 2002 to rave reviews and was nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards in 2003, including Best New Musical. Eventually it arrived stateside on Broadway at the Hilton Theatre in 2005, receiving five Tony® Award nominations. Surprisingly, despite a kid-friendly story and recognizable tunes, the show lasted only 34 previews and 284 regular performances before closing in December of 2005. This stage adaptation features most of the original film's beloved score, including memorable classics such as “Truly Scrumptious,” “Toot Sweets,” “Hushabye Mountain” and the Oscar®-nominated title song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”

My expectations were low, but there was something about the atmosphere of a theater hosting a musical where there were more children in the audience than usual (compared to, say, a theater hosting Spring Awakening) that sparked a similar child-like excitement in me before the curtain even rose. The cast features Steve Wilson who plays Caractacus Potts, an even-tempered everyman who has a knack for inventing wild machinery. Caractacus is father to Jemima and Jeremy (who on this particular night were played by Aly Brier and Jeremy Lipton, respectively). They all live with the elder Potts, played with fun gusto by Dick Decareau. Caractacus' love interest, the wonderfully-named Truly Scrumptious, was played exquisitely by Kelly McCormick. Wilson showcases a beautiful voice in "Hushabye Mountain" and amps up the cute factor when singing "You Two" with the two Potts children. The Childcatcher, inhabited on stage by actor Oliver Wadsworth, was so creepy and spine-tingling, you would have thought that he was the taller, more fashion-savvy cousin of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings films. It was a relief though not to hear any cries of fear from any child in the audience that night when he slithered on stage.

What surprised me in a good way was the rousing dance numbers performed by a very limber ensemble cast, especially during "Toot Sweets" and "Me Ol' Bamboo." And, as they do in every new tour city the show performs, local young actors were recruited to join the cast. Another great surprise was the scene-stealing duo of Boris and Goran, played by Dirk Lumbard and Scott Cote. The two hilarious actors play spies doing reconnaissance work for The Baron and Baroness of the fictional, child-less nation of Vulgaria.

The musical had some rough spots (as most productions often do) particularly in the second act, but all-in-all it was a fun, rousing musical with clever staging (watch how they pull off a flying outhouse) and a talented, very game ensemble cast. And let's not forget the title character, an inanimate object of metal, glass and rubber that somehow engaged the audience to believing... yes, he flew! Admittedly, I reverted back into an eight-year old once I saw Chitty rise above into the starry sky. I wasn't alone though. As the title song began its inevitable familiar chorus, I saw a multitude of audience members' heads of varying ages and genders bob side to side in childish merriment. Collectively, we believed in the power of Chitty and that when he flew those children out of harm's way, we wished too that we could ride in his vintage cushioned seats, singing those fun Sherman brothers songs as we soar into the clouds.

The national tour of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, executive produced by Daniel Sher of Big League Productions, continues next to Denver, Colorado July 23 - July 26. This newly conceived version, with direction and adapted script by Ray Roderick, features sets and costumes by renowned English designer Anthony Ward, additional set designs by Robert Bissinger and lighting by
Charlie Morrison. New choreography is by JoAnn M. Hunter.

Visit chittyontour.com for more information.

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