The car is the star in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a jolly musical set in an England of 1910 that never existed, and a Vulgaria that is pure fantasy.
Many will have fond memories of the 1968 film in which cheeky chappie Dick Van Dyke played inventor Caractacus Potts, widower and father of two.
This became a stage musical late in life, in 2002, with new songs added by the Sherman brothers to their original score.
Now, it flies into Wimbledon as part of its UK tour, tweaked, preened, and polished in Thom Southerland’s production.
With parents, children, and press night guests alike clapping in the overture, the ten-piece orchestra conducted by Jessica Viner, we are taken to the Grand Prix, and the car race.
There is no complicated story to unpick here, and characters find their resolution quickly. But our “fine four-fendered friend”, when she appears towards the end of act one, is impressive as her ‘chitty’ sputtering becomes a flying spectacle.
Adam Garcia’s Potts is fun, with “Me Ol’ Bamboo” and the music box routine proving comic highlights, while “Hushabye Mountain/Come To The Funfair”, the latter added back to the show for the first time since 2008, add extra depth.
His growing friendship with Ellie Nunn’s no-nonsense Truly Scrumptious is charming (especially in “Lovely, Lonely Man”), and the children (ably played by Roshan Thomson and Gracie Cochrane at our performance) are adorable.
Grandpa Potts, played by Liam Fox, channels the film portrayal by Lionel Jeffries more than a little, but he’s always entertaining with his constant expeditions to the outside loo – a reference lost on many youngsters, I suspect!
The villains of the piece offer a sense of pantomime. Martin Callaghan’s frisky Baron and his spiky Baroness (played by Bibi Jay last night) amuse rather than chill, and even Charlie Brooks’s Child Catcher isn’t that scary, although the song “Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies” is now welcomed back.
Morgan Large’s costumes are suitably colourful, and his set incorporates wheels and mechanics with glee, complemented by Ben Cracknell’s lighting. Karen Bruce’s sharp choreography takes on forms from Morris dancing to the samba.
The car is the star, and so there’s more flair on it than elsewhere. The moving around of props in act one meant a few neat sight gangs were lost (particularly in “Toot Sweets”), and in act two, miniatures were a little overused.
Elsewhere, the dog puppet doesn’t quite work, and Goden/Boris are tiresome characters who hang around too long. Now and again, the lyrics are lost in the sound mix, especially in ensemble numbers.
But for the moments which do work, the pure nostalgia of seeing an old friend fly, and the songs, this is worth a look to satisfy the occasional sweet craving.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is parked up at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 26 May then continues its tour – details here.
***.5
Image credit: Paul Koltas