Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: No-fly Zone for Car and Show
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Music by special arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing
Adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams
Based on the MGM motion picture
Licensed script adapted by Ray Roderick
Directed by Jenn Donnelly
From a child’s perspective, a magical flying/floating car that saves its owners from the villains after a scary adventure into a strange land is a story worth telling.
Author Ian Fleming (creator of the James Bond 007 spy novels) wrote the tale about an old racing car for his son, Caspar, in 1964. In 1968, it was adapted into a movie, starring Dick Van Dyke, with screenplay by Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes.
Eventually, in 2002, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang became a stage musical with a huge cast and a massively expensive prop — the flying car that could also float. Surprisingly, the show was a hit in London’s West End and later moved to Broadway.
Despite one or two catchy numbers, such as Toot Sweets and the title song, the stage depiction of the story of inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children, as presented by Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, does not appear to transfer well to live theatre.
The well-lit car rolls around the stage but does not fly, despite the appearance of extendable wings. Over-the-top cartoonlike characterizations of the foolish villains and their inept spies are embarrassing to the point of being offensive. Difficulties with sound frequently make it difficult to understand what the children are saying. In the Opening Sequence, for example, lively as Jemima (Sophia Pierce) and Jeremy (Aleksandr Rohozinski) were, it was impossible to distinguish any of their words and very few of the words in the opening song from the ensemble.
Only when Paul Melsness as Caractacus begins speaking is any clarity added to the proceedings. There are some memorable moments through the show: Andrea Black as Truly Scrumptious is in good voice and is charming as the mechanical music-box doll. Jason Sedlar is suitably spiky as the Childcatcher, while Jim Robertson as Grandpa Potts and Michael McSheffrey as the Toymaker try to inject a little substance into slightly written roles.
But there is only so much that can be done with a weak script. Director Jenn Donnelly has tried making the two Vulgarian spies even sillier than their dialogue requires. The Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria are equally exaggerated. Occasionally, a funny reference, such as “making Vulgaria great again” works. Some of the production numbers, with musical direction by Chris Santillan and choreography by Niamh Webber are lively and well executed. But, most of the time, it is the effort rather than the effectiveness that is front and centre through the show.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang continues at Centrepointe Theatre to November 25.
Director: Jenn Donnelly
Musical director: Chris Santillan
Choreographer: Niamh Webber
Set: Jenn Donnelly and Tony Walker
Lighting: Rob Puchyr
Sound: John Cybanski
Cast:
Jemima Potts…………………………………….Sophia Pierce
Jeremy Potts……………………………………..Aleksandr Rohozinski
Toymaker et al…………………………………..Michael McSheffrey
Caractacus Potts…………………………………Paul Melsness
Truly Scrumptious……………………………….Andrea Black
Grandpa Potts……………………………………Jim Robertson
Childcatcher et al………………………………..Jason Sedlar
Spies…………………………………………….Sam Smith, Marcus Winchester
Baroness…………………………………………Kelly Fuoco
Baron et al……………………………………….Jared Langdon
Ensemble:
Suzanne Amey, Ben Baxter, Brielle Benisty, Jonas Blackburn, Alison Cachero, Angela Cachero, Neil Cachero, Tanya Chang, Roxane Delisle, Courtney Dinelle-Mayer, Melanie Evans, Austin Fogarty, Maddie Fulford, Jesse Gervais, Jamie Hegland, Andrea Kinsley, Elli McKean, Kirsten Mainwood, Michael Smith, Jim Tanner, Edalia Taylor, Emmett Workman.
Orchestra
Conductor……………………………………Chris Santillan
Keyboards……………………………………Wendy Berkelaar, Cheryl Jarvis Woods
Horn………………………………………….Keith Estabrooks
Reeds………………………………Mike Tremblay, Angela Casagrande, Dave Renaud
Trombone…………………………………….Terry Duncan
Trumpets………………………………………Nick Cochrane, Peter Vogelsang
Bass……………………………………………Alex Mastronardi
Drums…………………………………………Pierre Huneault
Percussion……………………………………..Brydone Charlton.