Michael Joseph Archives - North West End UK

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Palace Theatre

12Mar

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Palace Theatre

A Truly Scrumptious Spectacle! From start to finish, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical is a magical and thrilling ride that captures the heart and imagination of audiences of all ages. Currently at the Palace Theatre Manchester. This spectacular production, directed by Thom Southerland, brings to life the beloved story with dazzling production values, an outstanding cast, and the timeless music and lyrics of Richard and Robert Sherman. The show’s true star, of course, is the flying, floating Chitty Chitty Bang Bang itself—a breathtaking piece of stagecraft that left the audience gasping in awe. The technical wizardry behind the car’s seamless movements was simply outstanding, adding an extra layer of wonder to an already enchanting production. Complementing this spectacle were the ...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Birmingham Hippodrome

5Mar

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Birmingham Hippodrome

“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 fou...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sheffield Lyceum

20Feb

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sheffield Lyceum

High Flying Fantasy with scrumptious special effects. With Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman the well-known 1968 children’s musical fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in its stage adaptation by Jeremy Sams soars into the Sheffield Lyceum. With the original book written by the Bond/007 creator Ian Fleming and direction by Thom Southerland, choreography by Karen Bruce and Morgan Large as Set and Costume Designer this production as all the elements to fly high… literally!! The eight piece orchestra sound ‘toot sweet’ under the baton of MD Jessica Viner filling the auditorium with the familiar and much loved tunes right from the opening Entr’Acte. The Story - Inventor Caractacus Potts transforms an old race car into a magical flying vehicle that transports hi...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Blackpool Opera House

12Dec

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Blackpool Opera House

The much-loved family favourite, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, flies into Blackpool this week for an extended run over the festive period. Adapted from Ian Flemming’s story, with music and lyrics from the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), the story follows widowed inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children, Jemima and Jeremy, as Potts restores an old car, discovering it has magical powers. Once described as ‘James Bond for children’, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang boasts many similarities to Flemming’s more famous works, from evil villains to impressive gizmos and gadgets, incompetent spies to a farfetched story line and of course, a wonderful car. Add these elements to a truly toe-tapping score and you realise why this production has stood the test of time. I was...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Hull New Theatre

31Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Hull New Theatre

The cheering and clapping started even before curtain up, at the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening, as the audience in the packed venue instantly reacted to the very recognisable melody being played by the in-house orchestra. As the strains of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang rang out, the anticipation built to fever-pitch and, a few minutes after 7pm, the curtain rose on a night of rip-roaring fun. The much-loved family favourite (an Ian Fleming story for children, later made into a film in 1968) tells the tale of an absent-minded inventor, Caractacus Potts, who, urged on by his two young children, restores an old racing car - only to discover the machine has a magical mind of its own. Potts (Adam Garcia), a single parent to Jemima (Isla Ithier) and Jeremy (Charlie McGuire), has very li...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – New Wimbledon Theatre

22May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – New Wimbledon Theatre

The show opened in a blast of action, the headlights of racing cars zooming along, celebrating winners and fearing the losers, moving swiftly to a scene of an old disused car abandoned in Coggins yard. The children, Jemima played by Gracie Cochrane and Jeremy, Roshan Thomson were true to the likeness of the original children in Flemings’ book and it was not long before Truly Scrumptious played by Ellie Nunn and Caractacus Potts Adam Garcia appeared, to the delight of the audience. The puppeteers controlled the dogs seamlessly and interacted well with the actors providing an air of artistic flare, especially during the scenes of mayhem in Lord Scrumptious sweet factory. Grandpa Potts played by Liam Fox together with Ellie and Adam’s performances were true to the original screenplay cast whi...