“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical” first took off over 34 years after the original film starring the eternal Dick van Dyke was released based on the original book by Fleming, Ian Fleming with malicious additions by a pre-Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl – who else could have invented one of the most terrifying characters in all cinema – the Child Catcher? Though I’m reluctant to place it among the spate of tribute theatre we’ve seen of late (name a favourite film from your childhood/teens and add “the musical” and wait for the tills ching) it does smack of that genre. Nonetheless, though the film is a haphazard sub-Disney confection, it has wormed its way into our collective hearts not least through an endearing and irresistible score from the ever reliable Sherman Brothers.
Our fine four fendered friend reached the Palladium in 2002 with Adrian Noble at the helm and Michael Ball at the wheel and a stunning cast – who wouldn’t want to see Richard O’Brien at the Childcatcher? – and hasn’t been off the stage since so it seems. Our current version stars Ore Oduba in the van Dyke role and Liam Fox follows on from Lionel Jefferies – So does tonight’s iteration fly? Has it got legs – or, indeed, wings? The death of previous Child catcher The Vivienne may have cast a shadow over the show and some performances seemed lacking in enthusiasm, perhaps understandably. Oduba and Fox deliver serviceably performances alongside a delightful Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious and Grace Cochrane and Roshan Thomson as the Potts children were outstanding.
But it’s not until we get to the villains, Boris and Goran played with brash vaudevillian oomph by Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph and Martin Callaghan and Jenny Garner as Baron and Baroness that the show really takes off. Each gives us an endearing, rounded and ebullient performance full of comic asides and nuance without quite stepping into the realm of panto – something the audience seem to want them to do. And talking of audiences (can I review the audience? I think I can) we were surrounded by ladies and gentlemen all of a certain age, many of whom thought they were appearing in an episode of GoggleBox shamelessly commenting on the action and gossiping loudly without a care for the people around them. Perhaps the show should begin with a warning not only to switch off phones but to simply be quiet lest the Child Catcher (played here by Charlie Brooks with unsettling malevolence) be unleashed upon them.
But the star of the show is the car who dips and dives and swirls and twirls across the stage and even manages to take a bow. It’s an iconic recreation of children hood which, I guess, is what most of the audience have come to experience.
Reviewer: Peter Kinnock
Reviewed: 4th March 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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